BJP to fight Tripura polls under CM Biplab Deb's leadership: Vinod Sonkar

NEW DELHI: Amid efforts by the Trinamool Congress to expand its influence nationally, especially in the Northeast, after it held of a massive BJP attempt to dethrone it West Bengal in the 2021 elections has raised questions whether it can replicate its success in Tripura. However, the BJP is unfazed at the Mamata Banerjee party's efforts.

BJP national general secretary and Tripura in-charge, Vinod Sonkar weighed in whether the Trinamool offers a challenge in the State, and whether the party's recent trend of changing Chief Ministers in Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Gujarat will be repeated by in Tripura as well.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: The Trinamool has announced it will contest the upcoming civic polls in Tripura? How big a threat do you think it will turn out to be?

A: Everyone has the right to contest elections in a democracy. The Trinamool is not contesting elections in Tripura for the first time. It has previously contested elections in the State during 2018 as well as in 2019 wherein it lost its deposit. Now if the Trinamool wants to contest elections once again, it is free to contest next year, too. It poses no real threat to the BJP.

Q: But the Trinamool is making claims of wresting power in Tripura. Sushmita Dev, once known as a party leader close to the Congress high command, recently joined it. Party supremo Mamata Banerjee has given the responsibility of increasing the support base in Tripura to her nephew Abhishek Banerjee?

A: I will reiterate again that in a democracy any person is free to contest elections anywhere. Everyone has the right to dream. The Trinamool had previously fought elections in Tripura with full preparation but its party candidates lost their deposit on all seats they had contested. In Tripura, a corruption-free, crime-free and development-driven BJP government is functioning under the leadership of Chief Minister Biplab Deb. The Trinamool stands no chance of winning the upcoming polls in Tripura.

Q: Prashant Kishor, who is a master election strategist, has been roped in by the Trinamool who defeated the BJP in West Bengal. Now with the help of Kishor, Mamata Banerjee wants to defeat the ruling BJP in Tripura as well?

A: BJP has come to power in Tripura by defeating the Communist Party of India-Marxist which ruled the State for the last 25 years. Now the saffron party is ready to fight Prashant Kishor. Let us see whether the combination of party organisation and the state government wins the elections or any particular individual.

Q: The BJP is going through a massive churn these days. The BJP governments have also changed sitting Chief Ministers in several Dtates. In Tripura too, such speculation is cropping up. What would you say on this?

A: There is going to be no change of power in Tripura. The BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister Biplab Deb is doing a commendable job in the State and in future it will continue to run under his able leadership. The BJP will contest the upcoming Assembly elections under Deb's leadership. IANS

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