Ahead of the assembly elections in Tripura, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday blasted the Congress-Left alliance, accusing the opposition parties of ruining the northeastern state.
"The first condition for development is rule of law and order. The Communist rule had pushed Tripura to the brink of destruction. The people of Tripura can never forget the chaotic situation wherein cadres had taken hostage every aspect of life," Modi said.
India's prime minister was referring to the alleged goondaism during the 26-year-old Left Front government from 1993 to 2018, which came to an end in the last assembly polls as BJP won a thumping majority for the first time in this state.
Modi also stated that the partnership of Congress and Left will not bring development and peace to Tripura and will only loot public money if they came to power in this week's elections in the state.
"I want to remind the people of Tripura about one thing, the Left and the Congress can never develop Tripura and want the people of Tripura to remain poor. They have only one agenda i.e. filling their coffers," the BJP's top leader added.
Modi was on his second tour of Tripura in a week, campaigning for the BJP candidates in the state.
Why is Tripura Crucial for Ruling Party?
Winning the elections in Tripura is crucial for the BJP as it is the third state that the party governs on its own in the northeastern part of the country.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are the other two states in the region where BJP is in power.
However, Tripura is important in the context that it is the largest northeastern state as well as the only Hindu-majority state in the region going to polls this year.
Other northeastern states where polls are taking place this month are Nagaland and Meghalaya. But unlike Tripura, both these states have a Christian majority.