The Chieftain's Gaze

Keeping party workers on their toes, Shah has a plan for every state

- Pratul Sharma

In February 2013, the Left Front won 50 of 60 the assem-bly seats in Tripura. The BJP managed 1.54 per cent vote share—49 of its 50 candidates lost deposits. Yet, Amit Shah says the BJP will rule Tripura after assembly elections early next year.

It could be political bluster, but his party men claim the tide has begun to turn. On a two-day visit last month, Shah revved up party machinery in Tripura. He listened intently to local leaders, took notes, and apportioned work to everyone. He ordered that they harry the Manik Sarkar government with charges of corruption and lack of development, and promise seventh pay commission scales if the BJP is voted to power. The state government employees still draw pay based on the fourth pay commission.

“We will promise to implement it in the first cabinet meeting, and involve them in agitations. If employees cannot participate, their families can. This way we will reach out to 7 or 8 lakh people,” Sunil Deodhar, BJP’s Tripura in-charge told THE WEEK. Tripura has 25 lakh voters.

After Shah’s visit, the BJP agitated for 15 days for the raise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the next visitor to Tripura, to inaugurate a development project and hold a rally. The party has invited its new hindutva poster boy, Yogi Adityanath, to visit the state, as 90 per cent of Other Backward Caste people here belong to his Nath sect. There are 18 Gorakhnath temples here.

Shah is touring all states, to prepare his party for an encore in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He spent two days even in Lakshadweep, which has just one seat. “There he met the state in-charge, district in-charge, mandal in-charge and booth in-charge. They were in the same room. Imagine the kind of boost they get,” a BJP leader said.