Press Statement
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now in session at New Delhi, has issued the following statement:
On The Assembly Election Results
Tripura Victory
The Central Committee hails the decisive victory of the CPI(M) and the Left Front in Tripura. For the third successive time, the Left Front has been returned to office with a two-third majority. The people of Tripura have recorded their appreciation for the resolute fight waged by the CPI(M) to defend the unity of the tribal and Bengali people and for the impressive performance of the Left Front government headed by Manik Sarkar. It is the pro-people policies which rendered the anti-incumbency factor irrelevant in Tripura, just as in West Bengal.
At the same time, the people have resoundingly rejected the opportunist Congress-INPT alliance. Their unscrupulous politics have been firmly rebuffed. The Congress leadership must realise the harm it has caused to the state and national unity by allying with a NLFT-backed party.
The Central Committee records its deep appreciation of the hard and determined struggle waged by the Tripura state unit of the CPI(M) in this electoral battle. It pays homage to the 34 members and supporters of the Party who sacrificed their lives during the election campaign.
Himachal Pradesh : BJP Defeat
The BJP has been badly defeated in the Himachal Pradesh elections, despite a concerted attempt to cash in on its success in the Gujarat elections. The BJP has got only 16 out of 65 seats while the Congress got 40 seats. All efforts were made by the BJP leadership to rake up the issues in the communal agenda. The Prime Minister himself raised the temple issue in a manner which undermined the secular principle to be upheld by the government. The campaign of the BJP was aimed at repeating the Gujarat success. The people of Himachal Pradesh have firmly rejected such a platform. They have decisively voted out the Dhumal government for its misrule and corruption.
Unable to face the fact that their communal platform has failed to evoke support, the BJP leadership is seeking to cover-up its political defeat under the excuse of disunity and factionalism. The results of the Himachal Pradesh elections are a welcome affirmation that large sections of people do not subscribe to the divisive agenda propagated by the BJP.