HISTORIC VICTORY IN TRIPURA

6th Left Front Govt Assumes Office

Haripada Das

THE people of Tripura are celebrating the Left Front�s charismatic victory in the general elections to the 10th assembly election held on February 23, 2008. March 7, 2008 was fixed for counting of votes. Counting started for all the 60 assembly seats at a time in 60 separate counting halls in 19 centres of the state. The eager people, supporting the main two combinations i.e. the Left Front and the Congress-INPT alliance thronged in different places to know the fate of the contenders of their choice. At about 9.00 a.m., as one after another flash of victory of the Left Front candidates poured in at the state Party office and at different sub-divisions, the people cheered the victory with high applause. By 2.00 p.m. outcome of all the 60 assembly constituencies of the state became clear. The people particularly the Left Front workers, supporters, sympathisers took to the street in jubilation to celebrate this outstanding victory of the Left Front in this election. However the triumphant masses were very much alert not to cause any inconvenience to others or turn this victory into an untoward harassment of the opposition supporters. Till now no such incident is reported.

Results at a glance:

Prominent among the Congress and INPT leaders who faced defeat in this election are state Congress president and ex chief minister, Samir Ranjan Barman from 16-Bishalgarh assembly constituency and INPT general secretary, ex minister, Rabindra Debbarma from 44-Raima Valley (ST) constituency. While Bhanulal Saha of CPI(M) defeated Samir Ranjan Barman by more than 900 votes, Lalit Mohan Tripura of CPI(M) defeated Rabindra Debbarma by about 3500 votes. Left Front, however, had setbacks in some constituencies, namely in Kamalpur where Bijoy laxmi Sinha, minsiter and in Sonamura, deputy speaker, Subal Rudra lost the election to the Congress candidates.

While Left Front lost 4 of their sitting seats to the Congress, Left Front candidates wrested 12 seats from the Congress-INPT alliance. Of the 20 ST-reserved seats, except for one seat retained by the INPT president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhwal i.e. 48-Kulai(ST), remaining 19 ST-seats were won by the Left Front candidates. The Left Front bagged all the 7 SC-reserved seats.

SWORN IN

Amidst high hopes of the people of the state, the 6th Left Front government under the leadership of Manik Sarkar, took oath on March 10, 2008 in the Governor House lawns in the presence of government officials and political leaders, political party workers, sympathisers and other dignitaries. The swearing in ceremony was conducted by the governor Dinesh Nandan Sahay at 3.00 pm in a spirited but sober atmosphere. Apart from the state government officials including chief secretary Sashi Prakash, the prominent among the dignitaries present in the ceremony were CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, state secretary Baidyanath Majumder, state secretariat member Gautam Das, Bajuban Riyan, Khagen Das and state RSP, Forward Block and CPI leaders and hundreds of Party workers. Among the ministers of 12-member cabinet, four including chief minister Manik Sarkar took oath in English, 7 in Bengali and Khagendra Jamatia took oath in Kok Borok, an indigenous language of tribal people, recognised as state language by the first Left Front government.

The new cabinet comprises Manik Sarkar, Anil Sarkar, Aghore Debbarma, Badal Chowdhury, Tapan Chakraborty, Manik Dey, Jitendra Chowdhury, Khagendra Jamatia, Joygobinda Debroy, Manindra Reang, Smt Bijita Nath and Sahid Chowdhury. While Manindra Reang and Joygobinda Debroy belong to CPI and RSP respectively, the rest belong to CPI(M).

Immediately, after the swearing in ceremony got over, all the ministers visited the civil secretariat where thousands of employees of different government departments were waiting to extend a warm reception to the new cabinet at the Secretariat lawns. Addressing the reception, chief minister Manik Sarkar said this is the first time in the history of state election and also in the national sphere, that an election with record 92 per cent turnout was held without any complaint from any quarter. Election Commission admitted that they had checked up their fax and email system five times on the day of poll only to find no complaint. �As a Party in power, we gladly accepted all the steps undertaken by the Commission, right from the transfer and posting of the officers, police personnel, preparation of electoral rolls, and mode of campaign and conduct of election. Officials of the other states who were engaged here as observers to oversee the election, got astonished to see the indomitable determination of the people of the state to exercise their right of vote in festivity. All credit goes to the high political consciousness of the people of the state,� Manik Sarkar said. The ministers of 6th Left Front government, he asserted, shall not rule the state confining themselves to the four walls of civil secretariat. Decentralisation of power was the motto of the first Left Front government, which shall be adhered to the next course of journey, Manik Sarkar said. In conclusion, chief minister greeted the election commission, state government officials, security jawans, government staff involved in election and the electors for their contribution in conducting a most peaceful, free and fair election.

NO ALTERNATIVE TO LEFT FRONT

Addressing a hugely crowded press conference immediately after the results were out, Gautam Das, state secretariat member warmly greeted the people of the state, election commission, state election department, security personnel, and the officers and employees who helped most peaceful and incident-free conduct of election in the state which has set a new record in the country in terms of 92 per cent electorate turnout.

He attributed this strong popular verdict as the positive verdict towards peace, prosperity and advancement against an anti-democracy and anti-people unprincipled alliance of Congress-INPT combine. In this popular mandate, it is proved that there is no alternative to Left Front in respect of peace and progress of the state, Gautam Das added. The results of 19 ST seats going in favour Left Front, Gautam Das said, is the indication that the mandate of the tribal populace totally rejected the extremism which has caused much bloodshed in the state and rendered it backward for long years.

Gautam Das urged upon the people to restrain themselves, particularly in using public address system at a time when the Madhyamik, Higher Secondary and CBSE Examinations are going on in the state.

Party state committee meeting will finalise the next course of programme towards formation of 6th Left Front government, Gautam Das informed.