Nagaland polls : Does BJP still need NDPP ? saffron wave in 20 ENPO/Eastern Nagaland seats

Is the party over, Mr Chingwang ?

Does BJP still need NDPP ? saffron wave in 20 ENPO Eastern Nagaland seats.
'Frontier #Nagaland Autonomous Council'...... yet another snub to #NDPP-led 'efficient and facilitator' regime?  

#BJP & #NPF can you wash off hands? still time... to 'review' #Himanta-#Rio friendship !!

 

According to clause 10 (b) of the 16 Point (or Statehood) Agreement of 1960, there was a provision for setting up of a Regional Council with elected representatives from all the tribes and the Governor may nominate representatives to the Regional Council. 

It was also stated that the "Regional Council will elect members of the Naga Legislative Assembly".

The demand for a separate state comprising Eastern Nagaland had gained momentum at a time when the NSCN-IM was negotiating with the Government of India for 'unification of all Naga contiguous areas'.  

'Nagaland Page', Feb 1

The Election Commission has fixed Feb 7 as the last date for filing of nominations for the polls and the scrutiny of nominations will be done on Feb 8.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb 10.  Centre offers Autonomous Council, ENPO may take a call to review 'poll boycott'

'Funding route through Kohima not acceptable'

New Delhi/Guwahati

The two-day long marathon rounds of closed door conclaves between ENPOleaders and the representatives of the Govt of India concluded in Guwahati onTuesday, Jan 31.

"It was a good meeting that ended on a positive note but nothing can be givenor shared in writing as there is moral code of conduct vis-a-via Feb 27 assembly elections,"an informed source told 'Nagaland Page'.

The offer from the centre is for an autonomous council with possible legislature and the new proposed body could be called the 'Frontier Nagaland Autonomous Council'. 

"There is broad agreement on many issues and some issues like funding route still remain undecided. The ENPO and other tribal body leaders from Eastern Nagaland want direct funding from New Delhi and in principle are against the idea of getting it routed through the Chief Minister in Kohima," the source said.

"After all these years no leader from Eastern Nagaland would like to come to Mr NeiphiuRio or any other Chief Minister with a begging bowl," the source maintained.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is learnt to have counseled the ENPO leaders and othersto review the call for poll boycott -- something the apex body from Eastern Nagaland had decided in August 2022.

The ENPO's highest policy making body the 'central committee' is likely to decide that at the earliest.

ends 

Govt of India takes serious cognizance of Jan 27 fracas

"Paradoxically, the Rio Govt has 'nationalists' BJP in power" 

New Delhi 

In the midst of BJP high command's unusual gestures and confidence shown to 'status quo politics' that suits certain quarters overt and covert, the Jan 27 fracas between Assam Rifles and the NSCN (IM) has virtually come at an odd time.

The government and its various wings have taken the matter with utmost seriousness and the issues have been discussed at concerned levels "in detail". The 'regrets' expressed by the NSCN-IM is only one part of the story and it need not be unilateral or purely voluntary, strategic observers suggest. 

A Lotha Naga soldier and my daughter: 1965 War Exhibition

"The incident has sparked outrage among senior officers of the Assam Rifles and the Army, who are planning to ask the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to warn the Naga insurgent group against such misadventure in future," says a report in 'Swarajyamag.com'.

A few meetings have taken place in Delhi and elsewhere and the men in camouflage feel it would not be prudent any longer to allow the "bushes to grow up in the Intangki" forest region.

Land is sacred in Nagaland like in any agrarian and traditional society. In October 2022, the Senior Citizens Association of Nagaland (SCAN) lambasted the inaction of the State government for failing to protect the Intangki National Park from being fully occupied by cadres of NSCN (IM). Paradoxically, the same state government now has the 'nationalists' BJP in power since 2018.

The latest round of 'revelation' is from an RTI response though the militant group has denied the allegation outright.

Last year during one of those turbulent days of negotiations with peace emissary A K Mishra, a senior NNPG functionary reportedly remarked, "The word integration is getting mistaken with 'Intanki-gretion' and the BJP government in the centre is unable to see that or is deliberately trying to play it down".

Likes of S C Jamir, former Gujarat Governor, and K K Sema, retired IAS officer, have more than once suggested that the issue in Nagaland could soon snowball into a row between insiders and outsiders.

"Taking everything on the table, concerned people and officials met on Jan 28 and 29 both in Nagaland and in Delhi. Things may not be very good for the status quo club of Nagaland " an informed source said.

The SCAN had articulated that - Nagaland cannot "whimsically" be converted into make-believe “Naga Nation” without integration for all Nagas from everywhere to share equal rights with the Nagas of Nagaland.

As usual, the NDPP spin masters may run to the neo-saviour called Himanta.  Land is strictly a state subject and here the state seems to have failed.

Serious consideration has been also made during the last two days to the October statement by SCAN. 

"....it is not the responsibility of the State of Nagaland (the NDPP-BJP-NPG regime) to promote mere population integration without land and rehabilitate our national workers belonging to other states with our aforesaid Intangki National Park," the SCAN had said. 

Many Nagas if not all have deep adoration of their 'land' they belong to -- their village, their district and that way even their state.

On the other hand, upholding the spirit of the Ceasefire inked in 1997 has "always" been the prime motive of the Security Forces. 

Now on this backdrop came a statement from an opposition party leader in Nagaland. He said, the recent fracas between forces and the militant body near Dimapur is a matter of concern. More so because it happened just on the eve of elections. 

Of course, he hastened to add that "In the context of elections in Nagaland, there is a big time money game and also a lot of muscle power and abuse of guns. This way you cannot ensure free and fair elections". 

In Delhi, stakeholders are getting more vocal. One of them said, "Now it is clear every action of theirs is indicative of the fact that they do not want a solution. High time that the Modi Govt should call their bluff and be firm in dealing with the wrong doers both politically and otherwise". 

 

NNPG's Kitovi: Concerned about 'Intanki-gretion'

India now has govt that is fearless and decisive’ -- President Murmu

"I am reminded of an inspiring poem titled 'Nari-Shakti', written by 'Utkal Bharti', Kuntala Kumari Sabat, an immortal personality of Indian literature, freedom fighter and well-known Odia poetess. About a hundred years ago she said:

“Basundhara-Tale Bharat-Ramani Nuhe Heen Nuhe Deen .... Amar Kirti Koti Yuge Kebhen Jagtun Nohib Leen.” 

In other words: The woman of India is neither inferior nor weak compared to anyone else. Her immortal glory will never disappear for ages and remain forever in the whole world.

"I feel proud to see our sisters and daughters bringing laurels at the world level as per the dreams of Utkal Bharti. I am happy that my government's efforts have been the driving force behind such progress. "

India now has govt that is fearless and decisive’

....the debate is no longer about policy paralysis, instead India is being recognized for her rapid development and the far-sightedness of her decisions." - President Murmu

".... we have now become the fifth largest economy in the world, up from the 10th spot. 

This is the foundation which elevates the self-confidence for building a developed Bharat in the next 25 years."

She said, "Lord Basaveshwara had said – ‘Kayakave Kailasa’ which means Karma is worship and Shiva is in the Karma itself. Following this path, my government is actively engaged in performing the duty of nation building. Today India has a government which is stable, fearless, decisive and working with lofty ambitions.

• Today India has a government which respects the honest.

• Today India has a government working for permanent solution of the problems of the poor and their lasting empowerment.

• Today India has a government working at an unprecedented speed and scale.

• Today India has a government that gives pre-eminence to public welfare by leveraging innovation and technology.

• Today India has a government which is committed to removing every obstacle being faced by women.

• Today there is a government in India which is committed to progress as well as the protection of nature.

• Today India has a government that preserves heritage while also embracing modernity.

• Today India has a government which is moving forward confidently to play its rightful role on the global stage.

My government has taken a number of successful steps for lasting peace and has confronted the geographical challenges. As a result, the North East and our border areas are experiencing a new pace of development. 

"We have seen the success of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign. The consciousness that has come in the society due to efforts of the government has led to a steady increase in the number of daughters. For the first time in the country, female population now outnumbers that of males and health of women has also improved considerably." 

Be it the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan or the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, we have succeeded in saving the lives of both mother and child. About 50 percent of the beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme are also women.

From education to their career, my government is trying to remove all obstacles for daughters. Through efforts like the construction of separate toilets for girls in the government schools of the country or the scheme related to sanitary pads, the drop-out rate of girls has come down sharply. 

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has not only increased the dignity of women, it has also provided them a safe environment. For the first time, savings accounts have been opened for the brighter future of crores of daughters across the country under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. Many important steps have also been taken for the education of girls in the new National Education Policy. 

"Our heritage connects us to our roots and our development gives us the courage to reach out to the sky. That is why my government has chosen the path of consolidating heritage and giving priority to development. Today, on the one hand, Ayodhya Dham is being constructed in the country, while on the other hand, the modern Parliament House is also being built."

On the one hand, we have constructed Kedarnath Dham, Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Mahakal Mahalok, on the other hand, our government is also building medical colleges in every district. 

......we are developing our pilgrimage centres and historical legacy, while on the other hand, India is becoming major space power of the world. India has also launched its first private satellite."

Budget 2023-24 : Great Expectations amid global challenges

(The Govt is expected to provide Income Tax relief to the common man, including salaried employees and senior citizens and also recommend steps for creating new job opportunities. Balancing capital expenditures and fiscal deficit will get priorities and Budget 2023 
will also infuse more funds to the agriculture sector and for farmers.)

New Delhi

There are many ways to look at the Indian economy as well as the Budget 2023 and its scopes.

Our national economy and the insurance market are both tempting to insurers overseas. Hence, there have been suggestions to increase the FDI cap to 100 percent. However, this may not materialise for several reasons.

With over 60 insurers between life and general insurance and a large number of them being joint ventures, there is an acute shortage of local partners to collaborate with foreign players. But there is another way of looking at health insurance. Increased health penetration will possibly reduce the burden on the government towards providing medical care.

Of course, there are issues. Medical treatment costs have increased manifold. Moreover, the existing limits of Rs 25,000 for individuals, and Rs 50,000 for senior citizens over 60, are inadequate. 

The SBI Research said that the government should focus on agriculture and rural economy and schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card. The budget 2023-24 can bring in more incentive for the agriculture sector schemes. This is also the last full fledged Budget of the Modi Govt 2.0 and hence much is expected from the populism front and people's welfare oriented schemes.

A healthier Indian population would undoubtedly deliver superior output, reduce longer-term medical expenditure, and hence add values to the annual GDP. Thus, the Union Budget 2023-24 should help determine the future trajectory of healthcare improvement.

In a broad sense, the Indian industry has historically, over the last two decades, grown 2 to 3 times the GDP. Thus, experts say a reformist and proactive regulator and digitisation and easier customer access will continue to ensure that the industry continues to grow strongly over the next five years. 

In the changing dynamics the education sector will need special and focused attention. One suggestion is schools/institutes could be provided tax benefits or incentives for expanding their counselling services through counseling centres and career guidance services.

The ‘Manodarpan’ scheme of the Ministry of Education could get additional attention.

This is an initiative by the Ministry of Education and aims to provide psycho social support for mental health and well-being of students during the COVID outbreak and beyond.

It has Online Education, Webinars with Experts, Fitness Sessions and also Peer to Peer Support.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could give due attention to this scheme. This is also being seen

as the need to cater to as a growing challenge in our changing times. In September 2022,

it was found through an official study that a majority of school students’ mental health declined in 

secondary school in India.

Stakeholders from the technology and medical sector expect to see a boost in research and development, developing k-12 students holistically. The Budget is naturally expected to focus on scholarships, faculty development, building more institutes of eminence, skill development and job creation. 

Manufacturing sector will also deserve a special focus in a year when Indian population figures would be expectedly surpass China's.

ends 

First person : Stage set for EC notification, BJP tickets :::: Meanwhile FRUSTRATION grips Naga activist

My friend says,  “NOTA and the horse race is all that matters"

New Delhi 

A chance meeting with an old friend and a social activist from Nagaland in the chilly rain-fed evening at the Delhi Haat on Monday throws up some lessons and some pointers to reflect upon.

Blogger in Dimapur  

The friend looks gloomy but a hospitable man that he always was offers

snacks in 'Nagaland counter'. As the food comes, he wipes his nose and

then puts handkerchief over his teary eyes. Asked repeatedly, he shares his

agony - "I feel like not going back home".

Of course by Jan 30 evening the stage is set for Election Commission notification for the polls -- which according to the friend will continue "with what we have - the rot". The BJP tickets for Feb 27 elections could be announced anytime and even on that front he finds nothing to be excited about.

"The saffron party has decided to purchase a few seats by coughing up lot of money only to lose....Democracy is not for people, it is for fun and thus a tool of sheer manipulation," the friend laments. 

 

Just then he gets a call. He is told about the ENPO meeting at Guwahati wherein 40 tribal leaders and representatives fighting for separate statehood for Eastern Nagaland held a meeting with key officials from the Government of India. "This meeting also went off like that... like it happens with every meeting. They met and spoke and decided to have another round of meeting on Tuesday," says the Naga social activist and hastens to add, "I have given up thinking anything positive now. Today I understand what people might have thought in Kashmir or Indians and Pakistanis thought during partition in 1947.... There is no glimmer of hopes".   

"I am also writing for a Nagaland newspaper....," -- I tell my friend. He gives a vague look.

He pulls out a piece of paper and says, "This is a copy of 2013 judgement by the Supreme Court on NOTA votes.... I am in NOTO mood now. The verdict said -- Negative voting will lead to a systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates".

Did this NOTA thing really impact the results or anything in terms of outcome politically in India? -- my friend asks.

Just when I try to distract him asking about his old girl friends and new love for booze, he advises almost in a tone of order that only a good Naga friend can give, "You stop writing man, our people are laughing at you".

We part ways with the promise to meet during the coming weekend and then a thought hits me -- what does this disillusionment of my friend with the political system actually means.

“The horse race is all that matters...," I recall a sentence by Bruce Bartlett, a former associate of Ronald Regan.

In the Metro train compartment as I surf internet about Barlett, I come across his 2012 piece wherein he says, "...it’s unattractive and bad form to say “I told you so” when one’s advice was ignored yet ultimately proved correct".

ends 

BJP-NDPP seat share mess open avenues for AAP 

The AAP is eyeing the avenues for crucial entry into Nagaland assembly with a bang. 

High ambition will be to win in double figures and moderately good show in the context of Nagaland will be 4-5 seats as the party has formally plunged into the 2023 electoral battle only recently. 

Former legislator Asu Keyho is now the president of the party and as he hails from Western Angami constituency and is a former Speaker of Naga Students' Federation (NSF), there is already much enthusiasm.

"There is a lot of commonality between the AAP way of fighting as a party and my own political struggle. I also hail from an ordinary family and our party AAP will cater genuinely to the aspirations of the local Naga people," Asu told 'Nagaland Page'.

"The decision to launch the AAP was an important political event for Nagaland. The  AAP will create history in the state both in short term and long term perspectives," he said. The man who as an Independent had defeated N T Nakhro of Congress in 1998 polls, Asu is however -- an ear on ground politician.

Asu with Kejrwal and another AAP leader 

"No matter how you try, you cannot drag me to open my mouth on controversial issues. Our central leadership has also made it clear that we have to appreciate the sensitivity involved in Naga political issues," he says.

Answering a question, he said "One issue we will seriously work on is to implement a professional and genuine Recruitment Policy. We will ensure to implement transparency and assure meritorious recruitment policy in the manner of 80 per cent marks from written, 10 percent from academic and 10 percent from oral interview. One of the root causes of corruption is in the faulty job policy".

But some of his colleagues admit, the "mess" in the BJP-NDPP seat share talks will open greater avenues for the AAP. 

"Our party benefited from the politics of chaos in Punjab. There it was Congress and Akali Dal. In Nagaland, NDPP and BJP are indirectly helping us by providing us the political fodder for initial body warming," one leader confessed.

Another source said many sitting NDPP and BJP legislators and ticket aspirants from all other parties have been sending 'feelers' and are keen to join the AAP. "The enthusiasm is great...but it is always better to go slow. You will get some news after Feb 2," the source indicated.

AAP in-charge for North East Rajesh Sharma is likely to visit Dimapur on Tuesday and he could meet a few of the party ticket aspirants.

ends 

That's royal snub to crown prince: 15 Oppn parties stay away Rahul show

Continuing his whimsical statements Rahul Gandhi said on 8th January 2023 in Samana of Haryana, “Rahul Gandhi is in your head. I have killed him. He does not exist anymore. He is not in my mind. He is gone. Gone. The person you are seeing is not Rahul Gandhi. You are seeing him.”

New Delhi 

The RJD has been a longtime friend of Congress ever since Lalu Prasad's corruption hitand lawlessness governance days. Yet the Bihar-based party gave Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra total miss. 

Another seasonal friend and opportunist alliance, JD(U) of Nitish Kumar also from Bihar - also stayaed away from the former Congress chief's show including the last day session. To the shock of Team Rahul and grand old party fans, out of 23 parties invited to turn up to mark the end of Rahul’s Yatra, as many as 15 of them kept a safe distance.

"In the end, there was no clinching of hands showcasing Opposition unity, nor a dramatic show of support," went a report in a leading English newspaper most often finds same cause with the opposition camp.

The plan fell flat. 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' planners had thought otherwise.

Not long ago, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh had said - “You will see the meeting in Srinagar on 30th Jan… the aim (of the meeting) is that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is over… what is the next step to be taken in the context of the 2024 elections… there will be some discussions on that".

But nothing of that sort happened. 

Finally, eight opposition parties attended the Srinagar event.

DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, CPI general secretary D Raja, the National Conference’s Omar Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, RSP’s N K Premachandran, and the IUML’s K Navas Kani were present and also there were representatives of the JMM and the VCK. 

The Bharat Jodo -- 'Unite India' journey was marred by controversies and some sidelights. Congress 'star campaigner' and Bharat Jodo protagonist Rahu Gandhi had even stayed away for most period during Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections.  

It was the dynasty's 'experiments with yet another chapter of  truth' -- let's see what happens if Rahul baba stays away and can we call it a great masterstoke.

Instead, BJP recorded a landslide victory in Gujarat -- a pocket borough of PM Narendra Modi where the Congress had put up a brilliant fight in 2017. The Himachal win was also generally attributed to local factors and also the basic factor that the electorate throws out any government after every five years. 

There's another twist in the tale. BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav, who walked with Rahul when the Yatra crossed Delhi, also attended the Srinagar event on Jan 30.

Sources in the BSP, however, said Singh — the MP from Jaunpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh — did not attend the event as a BSP representative. 

In November there were few controversial episodes and speeches.  

He flayed Veer Savarkar during the Maharashtra leg of his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra.’ On November 15, 2022, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the freedom fighter took a pension from the British government.

Two days later, he reiterated that Veer Savarkar helped the British government and wrote mercy petitions “out of fear”.  

Media reports said on November 16, 2022, during the Yatra Nepalese National Anthem was played instead of Indian National Anthem.

"Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders on the stage kept calling it National Song while the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ was supposed to be played," says OpIndia.com.  

Security breach row !!

(Contrary to attempts being made to trigger controversies, Rahul Gandhi himself violated security guidelines. During 'Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra', the protectee violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up the matter separately. Since 2020, there have been 113 such violations.) 

Just as the Congress party has sought to trigger a row over 'security issues' related to party leader Rahul Gandhi, CRPF sources said on the contrary to allegations on several occasions "violations of laid down guidelines" on the part of Shri Gandhi have been observed.

"Security arrangements made for the protectee work fine when the protectee himself adheres to the security guidelines laid down. However, on several occasions violations of laid down guidelines on the part of Shri Rahul Gandhi has been observed," a source said.

Since 2020, there have been 113 violations observed and duly communicated. It may further be mentioned that during the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee has violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up this matter separately, a CRPF source said. 

In fact, the critical observations of the security agencies and CRPF have also been communicated to the Congress MP from time to time.

Frustration is the story: "Will Pakistan forever rely on bedlinen, underwear to earn dollars?"

(The crises are also social and in education. With a handful of exceptions, our universities are trash; half of fully tenured professors are fit only for driving taxis. In such intellectual deserts, students demand only grades and degrees, - runs the newspaper column) .

New Delhi 

Things are just beyond repair and hence frustration is the story of helpless Pakistanis. Examine this sentence and you could gauge the level of 'resigned to fate' situation.

"Will Pakistan forever rely on bedlinen, underwear, and footballs to earn dollars?," laments intellectual and a physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy.

In his piece for 'Dawn', Hoodbhoy writes: "....stop blaming the world for Pakistan’s problems. You cannot 

hate the West and, in the same breath, supplicate it for bailouts or apply for immigration. We are 

authors of our own misfortune".

He als makes a few candid admissions as intellectuals and the Pakistani official establishment

should have made it long back. "Without Pakistan’s help, the Taliban monster and terrorism wouldn’t 

have existed. It’s true we were  misused by Americans in warring with the Soviet Union. But didn’t we milk the American cow 

until its udders ran dry of dollars?," he writes.

The cryptic remarks came at a time when onion prices in Pakistan have increased by more than 500 per 

cent and rates on rice, pulses and wheat are up by almost 50 per cent. The weekly inflation has surpassed 31 

per cent.

In the meantime of course, there is another saga --- Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar said that he had full 

faith that Pakistan would progress because it was created in the 'name of Islam'.

Eventually  the Minister got trolled.

One Ali Atif Saeed wrote - "Allah created Pakistan. Allah is responsible for Pakistan's economy".

There were other comments too. "Time for Ishaq Dar to admit his utter failure to handle 

the economy. He had boasted to know IMF more than anyone else in Pakistan. It's obvious now he 

came to Pakistan to retrieve his Lahore House and Rs 500 million from NAB. Mission accomplished so 

better return to London ASAP," tweeted journalist Rauf Khalsra.

As per the 'Dawn' article, Hoodbhoy blasts the elites and that is actually represented by the military and

the rest.

"As in some African countries, Pakistan is home to the world’s richest politicians, real-estate tycoons, 

and generals. Symbiotically bound together, on Fridays they love being seen in a state of unctuous piety. 

Donning a prayer cap and dressed in starchy white shalwar-kameez, one by one they step out from their shiny 

new SUVs and into a DHA mosque," he points out. 

The tragedy could be worse. Here's what he says about intellectuals and the education system.

"With a handful of exceptions, our universities are trash; half of fully tenured professors are fit only for 

driving taxis. In such intellectual deserts, students demand only grades and degrees. Most vice chancellors, deans and chairpersons would, at best, count among the semi-educated elsewhere," runs his column for 'Dawn'.

Another report in a section of the media in India says, "Long queues of vehicles at fast emptying filling stations, 

hours-long blackouts and desperate fights for food have become commonplace as the Shehbaz Sharif 

government struggles with Pakistan's worst economic crisis since its formation in 1947".

Experts say, Pakistan needs an infusion of more than $ 9 billion to climb out of the crisis. Its friends like

China and Saudi Arabia can help, but the bailouts will always have the 'implicit strings attached'.

Some say, Saudi Arabia sees Pakistan not only as a key oil purchaser and source of migrant labor but 

also as a key Sunni-majority ally vis-à-vis Iran. China's interest could be in an 'energy corridor' running from 

the Arabian Sea to China’s western provinces and the strategically vital port of Gwadar.

Hence Hoodbhoy's analysis makes sense.

He says, Forbes (2023) identifies the five richest Ameri­cans: Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk (Tesla), 

Bill Gates (Microsoft), Larry Ellison (Oracle), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). 

"Their creations have alt­ered your lifestyle and mine". He also hails Indian achievers.

The five richest are Gau­tam Adani (power generation), Mukesh Amb­ani (pet­rochemicals), Shiv Nadar (IT), 

Cyrus Poon­awalla (vaccines), and Radhakishan Damani (retail).

Then he talks about Pakistan's rich-elites -- Mian Mansha, Sadruddin Hashwani, Asif Ali Zardari, Malik Riaz and 

Habibullah Khan. 

But he puts up a very candid question. "How they made their billions is not for me to know. But what exportables have they produced? Will Pakistan forever rely on bedlinen, underwear, and footballs to earn dollars?"

ends 

Congress-Left nexus gives major boost to BJP poll prospects in Tripura

New Delhi/Agartala

Ending hours of suspense, the BJP has finally decided to name its candidate for the prestigious Agartala seat in Tripura.

In a late evening announcement on Sunday, party leader Arun Singh said Ms Papiya Dutta, a state unit general secretary of, will be the party nominee in this seat which has been for long a bastion of  Congress stalwart Sudip Roy Barman.

It is altogether a different chapter that in 2018, Roy Barman had won the seat on BJP ticket.  Electioneering has picked up slowly in this northeastern state which was once a red forte but the BJP has been in power since the last five years.

The saffron party leaders including from Centre have brought in a number of key infrastructural changes like the new look airport at Agartala and also a number of road projects.   

Amid the heat and dust of yet another round of fierce contest ahead, apparently the BJP has got an advantage. 

Interaction on ground zero suggests a large number of CPI-M cadres and supporters have decided to shift allegiance to the BJP and many of them now openly attribute the Congress-Left alliance for the same.

An employee with a private company, Tota Biswas says, "In 2018 also such a scenario was seen. 

When the Sitaram Yechury-Mamata Banerjee axis was worked out during demonetisation in 2016, people had decided to support the BJP. The Left has not learned any lesson and this time they tried to work out an alliance with the traditional rival Congress".

Analysts say, the BJP was always ambitious to make a deeper penetration into Tripura. But the so-called 'communist orientation of Bengali middle class' used to pose a serious challenge.

This umbilical cord between Bengalis and the communists was broken in 2018, and it only got 'better' for the saffron party this year after the Congress and the Left agreed to form the Democratic Secular Front.

"We have been let down again," says Kutu Debroy, a voter in Kamalpur where the CPI-M has decided to allot the seat to Congress quota. Debroy, 42, says, "This is a traditional communist seat. The Congress party has no existence and they just gave away the cakewalk for sitting BJP leader and Food Minister Manoj Kanti Deb".

In North Tripura, surprisingly contrary to the common belief from Kamalpur, the Congress has fielded a comparatively "much weaker" candidate Ms Rubi Gope and she will be no match to Manoj Deb.

Deb in 2018 had defeated CPI-M nominee Ms Bjoy Laxmi Singha by a margin of 2959 votes. Ms Gope on the other hand is a former Gram Pradhan and may not enlist support outside her locality. 

Manoj Deb, BJP : Kamalpur

Meanwhile, Congress stalwart Sudip Roy Barman told 'Organiser' - "We are confident of doing well in the polls".

On the alliance with the Left, he said as of now the Congress is sticking to its decision to field 17 candidates in this year's polls as against 13 left for the grand old party by the communists.

"We are sincere about the alliance with the Left parties. This was a practical decision and so we had decided to bury her old competition and formed the alliance alliance— Democratic Secular Front," he said, however, adding negotiations are still on to ensure that the partnership forged between Left and the Congress remains intact.

"There were already reports of serious resentment and frustrations among the Congress workers who felt that it would not be possible for them to work together with the CP-M," says Agartala-based analyst Manas Paul.

In the first list of 48 candidates released on Saturday, the BJP named 11 women candidates. The Lotus party also fielded Union Minister Pratima Bhowmick to contest from Dhanpur.

This segment was a red-forte and was represented by Marxist veteran Manik Sarkar. The former Chief Minister Sarkar and a few other senior Leftist legislators have decided to stay away from this year's polls in Tripura.

According to BJP's list of candidates, Chief Minister Manik Saha will contest from Town Bordowali in Agartala while senior leader Rattan Lal Nath will contest from Mohanpur.

From Kailashahar, the BJP nominee will be sitting MLA (and former CPI-M leader) Md Moboshar Ali. The former Marxist joined the BJP on Friday in Delhi.

In 2018, the BJP achieved a major milestone in the Christian-stronghold and tribal majority north east when it stormed to power in Tripura  and ousted the Marxists. Nearly 80 percent of the state's 3.8 million people in the state are Bengali-speaking Hindus, mostly migrated from earlier East Pakistan and now Bangladesh.

The Lotus poll strategists banked on pressing issues like unemployment, women empowerment and industrialization to garner support.

"The mandate in Tripura was crucial as it gave a big encouragement for BJP workers across the country and especially in other parts of northeastern states," UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said in 2018 after the election results.

One big advantage for the BJP this year will be the fact that the communists feel marginalised across the state and hence have settled for an alliance with their traditional rivals in the state, the Congress.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress tried its luck in last year's assembly by-polls and municipal polls but could not make a mark. Essentially the state does not have much of a Bengali Muslim population and hence West Bengal Chief Minister's popularity in her state will not make much of a difference in Tripura.

ends 

Tripura has been ruled by a communist government since the 1990s and Manik Sarkar was the Chief Minister between 1998 and 2018. The BJP party strategists, sources say, worked on different poll strategies in Tripura.

The likes of Sunil Deodhar, BJP in-charge for Tripura in 2018, gave a catchy slogan 'Chalo Paltai (Let us Change) and it worked effectively. 

New Delhi/Agartala

Ending hours of suspense, the BJP has finally decided to name its candidate for the prestigious Agartala seat in Tripura. In a late evening announcement on Sunday, party leader Arin Singh said Ms Papiya Dutta, a party general secretary in the state unit, will be the party nominee in this seat which has been for long a bastion of Congress stalwart Sudip Roy Barman.

"We are confident of doing well in the polls in Tripura this year and ousting the non-performing BJP government in Tripura looks possible," Roy Barman told this journalist. 

Blogger in CPI-M office 

He said as of now the Congress is sticking to its decision to field 17 candidates in this year's polls as against 13 as was left for the grand old party by the communists.

"We are sincere about the alliance with the Left parties. This was a practical decision and so we had decided to bury our old competition and formed the alliance alliance — Democratic Secular Front," he said, however, adding 

negotiations are still on to ensure that the partnership forged between Left and the Congress remains intact.

"There were already reports of serious resentment and frustrations among the Congress workers who felt that it would not be possible for them to work together with the CP-M," says Agartala-based analyst Manas Paul.

Ms Papiya Dutta

In 2018, Sudip Roy Barman was elected on BJP ticket but he quit the party in 2021 over his reservation to work with the then Chief Minister Biplab Deb. The saffron party later replaced Biplab Deb with incumbent Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.

According to the Congress list, party stalwart Sudip Roy Barman would fight from Agartala constituency while

Asish Saha will be Congress nominee from Town Bordowali.

Asked if Ms Papiya Dutta as a BJP rival has made his task easier, Sudip Roy Barman said, " I do not look at

electoral politics. Every fight is a serious contest. But as an individual candidate, I know her. She does not bring

in any extra votes. She will of course get the BJP's share of the votes".

Former BJP MLA, D C Hrangkhawl, would contest on Congress ticket from Karamchara constituency. 

Former TPCC president Birajit Sinha would fight from Banamalipur.

In North Tripura, surprisingly contrary to the common belief from Kamalpur Congress fielded Rubi Gope, who will take on Food Minister Manoj Kanti Deb. This has made the Minister's job much easier. 

Kamalpur was a traditional Left bastion and the fact that Leftists left the seat for Congress was itself a big surprise. Ms Gope was a Gram Pradhan from Kalarchhari area in Kamalpur of Dhalai district.

In the first list of 48 candidates released on Saturday, the BJP named 11 women candidates.The Lotus party also 

fielded Union Minister Pratima Bhowmick to contest from Dhanpur.

This segment was a red-forte and was represented by Marxist veteran Manik Sarkar. The former Chief Minister Sarkar and a few other senior Leftist legislators have decided to stay away from this year's polls in Tripura.

According to BJP's list of candidates, Chief Minister Manik Saha will contest from Town Bordowali in Agartala while senior leader Rattan Lal Nath will contest from Mohanpur.

From Kailashahar, the BJP nominee will be sitting MLA (and former CPI-M leader) Md Moboshar Ali. The former Marxist joined the BJP on Friday in Delhi.

In 2018, the BJP achieved a major milestone when it stormed to power in Tripura. Nearly 80 percent of the state's 3.8 million people are Bengali-speaking Hindus, mostly migrated from Bangladesh.

Tripura has been ruled by a communist government since the 1990s and Manik Sarkar was the Chief Minister between 1998 and 2018. The BJP party strategists, sources say, worked on different poll strategies in Tripura.

The likes of Sunil Deodhar, BJP in-charge for Tripura in 2018, gave a catchy slogan 'Chalo Paltai (Let us Change) and it worked effectively. The Lotus party strategists also realised that unlike northern states like Uttar Pradesh, they did not make any issue of banning beef or cow vigilantism. Instead they banked on more pressing issues like unemployment, women empowerment and industrialization.

Kamalpur : Town pond 

Even the state government servants were wooed by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising  that the BJP if voted to power will implement the 7th Pay Commission report.

The mandate in Tripura was crucial as it gave a big encouragement for BJP workers across the country and

especially in other parts of northeastern states. 

However, five years since then much water has flown across river Dhalai and hence anti-incumbency issues

have cropped up. Sensing the mood, the BJP leadership replaced Biplab Deb by bringing in a medico and state unit

president Dr Manik Saha.

One big advantage for the BJP this year will be the fact that the communists feel marginalised across the state and hence they have settled for an alliance with their traditional rivals in the state, the Congress.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress tried its luck in last year's assembly by-polls and municipal polls but could not make a mark. Essentially the state does not have much of a Bengali Muslim population and hence West Bengal Chief Minister's popularity in her state will not make much of a difference in Tripura.

ends