On Friday, after the BJP vanquished Manik Sarkar’s Left, BJP’s state in-charge Sunil Deodhar said that that the result showed the BJP wasn’t ‘anti-minority, anti-Muslim or anti-Christian’.
On Friday, after the BJP vanquished Manik Sarkar’s Left, BJP’s state in-charge Sunil Deodhar said that that the result showed the BJP wasn’t ‘anti-minority, anti-Muslim or anti-Christian’.
He said: “The real character of the BJP is finally showing up now -- we are not anti-minority, anti-Muslim or anti-Christian. The party stands for inclusive growth and that can be seen from the results today.”
He added: “The spectacular performance of the BJP in Tripura is because of the performances of the union ministries and because of the PM Modi's passion for the region."
He added: “I have always been sure of winning 40 seats, given the input from the party workers. And if we look closely at the results, then the BJP would have easily won 8 more seats"
"The BJP's anti-minority image is one crafted by the Congress and the Left. True, we are against forced conversion, but we are a secular party. We believe in inclusive growth. And, if you look at the results today, it’s evident that the Northeast has chosen development."
Deodhar’s role has been hailed in BJP’s victory in Tripura where they had no presence.
Unlike many of his political colleagues and rivals in Tripura, Deodhar was born and raised in Maharashtra before making his way to the northeastern state.
He started My Home India, an organisation that helps students from the Northeast across the country. In 2012, he was given charge of Dahod district in the Gujarat assembly polls and in 2013, of South Delhi during the Delhi state elections.
In the 2014 Indian general election, Deodhar was appointed as the campaign manager to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. Following this, he was given the responsibility to handle Tripura in November 2014, a state where the party had no seats and a negligible presence. Deodhar had earlier spent eight years in Meghalaya understanding the northeastern society.
While talking about the party's rise in the state, Deodhar in an earlier interview with DNA said, "Faith cannot be created by money, it comes from people. There are two ways to win elections – by rigging, that was carried on here for the last 25 years, or, when there is an outcry from people. In Tripura, the CPM has never won elections honestly. There are instances of 25% polling by 2pm and then 97% by 9pm. People are not even allowed to go out of their homes. That alone proves that Manik Sarkar is not an honest man."
Crumbling the red bastion, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks poised to form the government in the Tripura state.
As soon 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.
Out of 59 assembly seats, the BJP is leading on 30 seats at the time of filing this report.
Amit Shah, in his Twitter post, thanked people of Tripura for their support to the BJP.
"I thank brothers and sisters of Tripura for their massive support to BJP. This is the victory of PM @narendramodi’s politics of development and his commitment to the welfare of North-Eastern region of India," he tweeted.
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.
Shah also congratulated his party leaders and workers for orchestrating the party's historic victory in the Communist stronghold.
"Congratulations to Shri @rammadhavbjp ji, Shri @Sunil_Deodhar ji, Shri @himantabiswa ji, Shri @BjpBiplab ji and I also applaud the hard work & dedication of our karyakartas of @BJP4Tripura unit which has made this historic win a reality," he said.
The BJP and its ally IPFT were set to end the Left Front's 25-year-rule in Tripura with a strong showing in the Assembly polls, while Meghalaya seemed to be headed for a hung House.
In Nagaland, a close finish was on the cards, according to available trends.
The BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance captured six seats in Tripura and was leading in 35 seats, according to an EC source.
The BJP and IPFT won three seats each. The saffron party was leading in 30 seats and the IPFT was ahead in five seats.
The CPI(M) won one seat and was leading in 17 seats.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was ahead in Dhanpur seat while the BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb was leading in Banamlipur.
Election in 59 seats for the 60-member Assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate.
According to the trends available till 2PM from Meghalaya -- Congress won 11 seats and was leading in another nine constituencies.
Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma won from both Ampati and Songsak constituencies, EC sources said.
National People's Party captured three seats and was ahead in 16. The BJP was leading in two seats in Meghalaya.
The United Democratic Party captured two seats and was ahead in four other constituencies.
The People's Democratic Front won one seat and was leading in three. The Nationalist Congress Party was leading in one, while the Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged one seat and was ahead in another seat.
The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement also won one seat, while the People's Democratic Front secured a seat and was leading in three constituencies. Independent candidates won two seats and were leading in two other constituencies.
According to the results and trends available from 47 of the 60 constituencies in Nagaland till 2 PM, the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) captured four seats and was leading in 18 constituencies.
BJP ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) won three seats and leading in 13 seats, while the BJP was leading in seven constituencies.
The National People's Party was ahead in three seats and the JD(U) in one. Independents were leading in two seats.
Commenting on the trends in three states, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that they indicated a new political direction which would have an effect on national politics as well.
"We are confident of forming government in all three states", he said.
BJP leader Ram Madhav said, "Seeing the early trends, I feel that in Tripura BJP is going to do very well. In Nagaland too, our alliance is doing very well and Congress is trailing in Meghalaya".
"The results of North East are going to be very good for BJP", he said.
With inputs from PTI
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