Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the Opposition parties in Tirpura to guide the “inexperienced” Biplab Kumar Deb with their “years of experience” in running the government. He also promised inclusiveness to those who did not vote for the BJP, in an oblique reference to CPI(M) that ruled the State for 25 years.
The Prime Minister made his appeal after Mr. Deb was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tripura’s first BJP government in alliance with Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).
Governor Tathagata Roy administered the oath of office and secrecy to eight others, including BJP’s Jishnu Dev Varma as Deputy Chief Minister and octogenarian IPFT chief N.C. Debbarman.
'This election has been historic'
“This election has been historic and underlines the political significance of a small State like Tripura. The people here have scripted this victory, and it is our responsibility now to ensure that the lamp of development lit today brightens by the day,” Mr. Modi said.
Mr. Modi said, “I assure you that this [BJP-IPFT] government is for all, for those who voted for us and for those who did not.”
With former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, flanked by senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani and M.M. Joshi, on the dais, Mr. Modi also urged the veteran CPI(M) legislators – 16 – to use their “long experience in running the government” and guide the “new, youthful and inexperienced” Mr. Deb and his team.
He said his predecessors did not give adequate attention that the Northeast deserved since Independence. “I have come to the Northeast at least 25 times, more than all the Prime Ministers before me. This is not because of political mileage, but because we want the remotest regions to feel they belong to this country,” he added.
Mr. Modi began his speech with the tribal Kokborok language and ended it with Bengali.
Tripura has strengthened party's goal: Amit Shah
Before him, BJP president Amit Shah said Tripura had strengthened his party’s goal of ruling seven of the eight Northeast States. In Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland the BJP has governments of its own or in alliance.
Assembly election in Mizoram, where the Congress has been ruling for almost 10 years, is scheduled later this year.
“We will try to honour the verdict of the people of Tripura by ensuring development and peace in the State,” Mr. Shah said.
Deb seeks cooperation of all
An emotional Mr. Deb, crediting the electoral victory to hard work put in by hundreds of party workers, sought the cooperation of the people in facing the challenge of adhering to the vision document the BJP had come out with before the polls.
“Treat me as your son, brother, and not the Chief Minister. Don’t hesitate to pull me by the ears and put me on the right track if I err in fulfilling your aspirations,” he said.
