CPI(M) blames 'money power' for BJP's Tripura win

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) set to form the government in the Tripura, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday attacked the party for using "money power" in the recently-concluded assembly elections.

"BJP has, apart from other factors, utilised massive deployment of money and other resources to influence the elections. BJP was able to consolidate all the anti-Left votes virtually appropriating the erstwhile main opposition, Congress," the CPI(M) said in a statement.

At the time of filing the report, the latest trends showed the BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance leading in 43 seats in the 60-member Assembly.

The Left Front was seen leading in 16 seats, a verdict that wipes out the CPI(M) from Tripura, leaving Kerala as the only state ruled now by them.

"The verdict of the people of Tripura will lead to the formation of a BJP-IPFT alliance government in the state. After 25 years in government, the Left Front has been voted out of office," the statement further read.

However, the party assured the people that "it will continue to champion the cause of all sections of the working people and uphold tribal-non tribal unity."

The party also thanked the 45 percent voters who voted for the Left Front.

Addressing the media a while back, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "We will conduct a proper analysis on the basis of the detailed result, once that comes out. Whatever shortcomings weaknesses that are there, the steps that need to be taken, will be taken."

As soon as the counting of votes began on Saturday morning, the trends reflected a close fight between the ruling Left and the BJP. As the day progressed, the BJP surged ahead, leaving the CPI-M behind.

The BJP led a massive campaign in Tripura, which had been under the Left rule for more than 20 years.

The BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged people for poribortan (change) in their election campaign, across the state.

The BJP workers wearing saffron caps and smeared in the saffron colour burst into celebrations on the roads of state capital Agartala.

Tripura went to polls on February 18 and recorded nearly 92 percent voting.

--ANI