A determined RSS-BJP onslaught has the Left and the chief minister worried for the first time in 25 years.
For the first time, the CPI(M), which prides itself on the organisational strength of its cadre, faces a serious electoral challenge from the BJP and RSS. The surge of saffron in this Left citadel has been sharp and significant—from a 1.54 per cent vote share in the 2013 assembly polls to a 14.7 per cent vote share in the local body polls two years later. From a few thousand members in 2013, the party now has 200,000 members in a state with a population of 3.6 million.
What has added muscle to the party’s campaign is the induction of eight Congress leaders, including five-time Agartala MLA Sudeep Roy Barman. This is in keeping with the BJP strategy of poaching prominent leaders from rival parties that has paid the party rich dividends in the assembly elections elsewhere, including in Assam and Manipur.
This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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