ALL EYES ON TRIPURA POLLS, BJP PLAYS 1ST WOMAN CM CARD?

provided it agrees “on paper and on the floor of the House” that it will concede to Tipra Motha’s demand for creation of a separate tribal state.

“It may so happen that we may be the single-largest party in the state… in a postpoll scenario, we are willing to support from outside (any party which is able to form government), but you have to agree on paper and on the floor of the House that a new state will be created,” said Hrangkhawl in an exclusive interview to PTI. “If they (other parties) do not agree, we will not proceed,” he said.

WHO IS PRATIMA BHOUMIK

Shah said the BJP is seeking a mandate to make the state prosperous in the next five years, building on the development initiatives of the party-led government.

While Nagaland and Meghalaya will go to polls on February 27, all eyes are on Tripura which goes to polls on February 16. However, on March 2, the outcome will be known.

In all three states, the saffron party is in power. BJP is the ruling party in Tripura and it is also part of the ruling coalition in Nagaland and Meghalaya.

What Does

BJP FEEL

The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, said the BJP-led alliance in Tripura will increase its seats and also vote share in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. He said adding that the saffron party would have attained a majority in polls before noon on the counting day to form the government in the state.

In an interview given to ANI, Shah took a dig at the Opposition in Tripura and said the Congress and Left parties have formed an alliance in the state as they have accepted that they can’t defeat BJP alone.

“We will increase our seats and also our vote share in Tripura. Congress and the Communist party have come together as they have accepted that they can’t defeat BJP alone. We will form a government with full majority in the state,” Shah.

Expressing confidence,

INDIA’S DEFENCE EXPORTS AIM HIGH

“We eliminated violence in Tripura and also took strict action against drug business from across the border in the state,” he said.

WILL CROSS MAJORITY

MARK BY NOON?

Asked about the possibility of a hung Assembly in Tripura, Shah said the constituencies in Tripura are small and “you will see that before 12 pm on counting day, the BJP would have crossed the majority mark.”

CHALO PALTAI

SLOGAN…

“‘Chalo Paltai’ slogan was given to change the situation in Tripura, and today we’ve done that. Earlier when the Left was in power in the state, government employees were paid under the 5th Pay Commission, but we implemented the 7th Pay commission without increasing fiscal deficit,” he added.

The BJP created a record in 2018 by ousting the Left Front government which ruled Tripura for 35 years from way back in 1978. The state will go to the polls on February 16 for its 60-member Assembly.

The BJP is contesting in 55 seats while its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) is contesting in the remaining five seats.

WHAT ANALYSTS FEEL?

Analysts, however, believe that it will be a three-cornered election, with the Left-Congress alliance re-emerging in

India has valid reason to be excited about its defence production and exports. At the Aero India 2023, in which over 80 countries and 800 defence companies are taking part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained why India should be proud of its defence sector’s growth. From the present $1.5 billion defence exports to 75 countries, the country aims to touch $5 billion in another two years from now. That’s a quantum jump for a country which was among the largest importers of defence equipment.

From Tejas to its first completely indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, India has good credentials as a manufacturer of defence ma-

IN-DEPTH CHEER IN AAP CAMP FOLLOWING CJI’S ORAL OBSERVATION

Pratima has risen from the ranks in the party and is very popular. She was considered close to former Chief Minister Biplab Deb. Her candidature is also an attempt by the central leadership to woo and keep the Biplab camp in good humour which has not taken his removal in good spirit the state and newcomer Tipra Motha gaining widespread support in tribal areas.

HRANGKHAWL SPEAK

In case of a deadlock with no alliance or party able to gain majority in the ensuing threecornered elections to the Tripura assembly, the Tipra Motha may stake claim to form government, its president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl said.

The regional party, which has been attracting large numbers of adherents in the state’s tribal areas, is also willing to give outside support to any party or alliance (either the BJP or the Congress-Left combine) that manages to form government,

The list of items being exported include Tejas, the indigenouslybuilt Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, artillery guns, missiles like Akash and Astra, battle tanks, anti-tank mines and explosives terial. Given India’s capability, the importers of its defence technology and equipment include Russia, Poland, Italy, Sri Lanka, France, Spain and Chile among others. The list of items being exported include Tejas, the indigenouslybuilt Light Combat Aircraft

The focus is on Pratima Bhoumik, 53, the Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, who has been fielded in the Tripura Assembly elections by BJP. Pratima, a sitting member of the Lok Sabha, became the first minister from Tripura in the Union ministry. The state had remained unrepresented in the Union council of ministers until her induction. Sources said she has been fielded to give a message to the people of the state that she could be a candidate for the post of chief ministership.

BID TO APPEASE BIPLAB CAMP?

Pratima has risen from the ranks in the party and is very popular. She was considered close to former chief minister Biplab Deb. Her candidature is also an attempt by the central leadership to woo and keep the Biplab camp in good humour which has not taken his removal in good spirit.

WHAT ABOUT MANIK SAHA?

There is no denying the fact that the current Chief Minister, Manik Saha, enjoys popularity but the matter of fact is the Biplab-Pratima combination that continues to be the dominant force in the state BJP. The party leadership has “played” its trump card deftly by fielding Pratima as this will perhaps give the Biplab faction a certain amount of good stature. Meanwhile, even as the BJP is locked in a tough three-cornered fight in the state and if it manages to pull through, will Tripura see the first woman Chief Minister?

Stay tuned till March 2.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

(LCA) Tejas, artillery guns, missiles like Akash and Astra, battle tanks, anti-tank mines and explosives. Besides these there are several other items on the export list in India’s fabulous journey. The list of items meant for export would get significantly longer once the DRDO is able to sort out delays affecting some of its programmes which will also cut down India’s defence import budget.

Tejas Mark2 LCA and its naval version, unmanned aerial vehicles, light machine guns and advanced towed artillery gun systems. According to MoS for Defence Ajay Bhatt, out of 55 high priority projects with DRDO, 23 have been delayed. Though a significant number, the delays can surely be overcome.

It was an oral observation made by Justice DY Chandrachud but it must have warmed the cockles of Arvind Kejriwal’s heart. On the eligibility of nominated members to vote in the Delhi’s mayoral election Justice Chandrachud told Sanjay Jain, the Additional Solicitor General representing Delhi Lieutenant Governor, “Nominated members should not vote. That’s very well settled. It is very clear Mr Jain.” The court was hearing a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party leader Shelly Oberoi seeking early elections for the post of mayor. The BJP which was trounced by AAP in the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections was insisting that its Aldermen be allowed to vote for mayor. The AAP blamed L-G for throwing his weight behind the BJP.

As the Supreme Court was busy, the hearing has been postponed for a date after February 17. But the oral observation sent AAP into cheer. Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeted, “Today the Supreme Court has made it clear—Nominated Councillors cannot vote…”

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