Will this be the moment of historic change in Tripura
"Chalo paltai" (come, let’s change) is an outcry against the strictures of authoritarian rule of CPI(M), and also a clamour for a bright new future under BJP. Tripura is an underdeveloped and poverty-stricken state that has voted in communist majorities for over 2.5 decades. Imprint of the ruling party—desperate to keep its only stronghold—is hard to shake, particularly for BJP which is a remote outsider. What gives credence for a probable saffron wave is that over two lakh people came in back-to-back rallies of PM Modi. That so many people are openly defying the communist terror machine, is according to one observer, nothing short of a revolution. These numbers attest that a sizeable part of the electorate has already been captured. It's also unthinkable to see lotus-emblazoned flags of the BJP fly merrily alongside hammer-and-sickle print of the CPI(M) in every nook and corner of the state. Such open mutiny—more so from their homes—would normally invite dire consequences like denial of food rations and other government benefits, social boycott, physical attacks and even forced expulsion from the village!!
According to a BJP state leader, there is a groundswell of support for BJP and resentment towards the ruling party. “CPI(M) has deliberately kept them in poverty and as a result Tripura is underdeveloped and backward. People know how the rest of the country is progressing and they too want to go ahead in life. Patience has run out, hence they have revolted.” Congress has been hollowed out and no longer trusted. It is blamed for taking favours and secretly aligning with the communists. Trinamool Congress which had artificially gained support on back of large amounts of tainted monies, has switched en mass to BJP. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam FM says BJP has shown guts to take on CPI(M) head-on and that impressed the people. It also has a solid track record for development and good governance.
BJP has aligned with Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), who populate hill areas of North & East Tripura. In the recent past they have been in conflict with Bengali-speaking migrants from Bangladesh. IPFT dominates 20 out of 60 assembly seats, and though they too have voted in CPI(M), their representation and demands have been completely neglected. "We have given the tribals the confidence that when we come to power, there will be development in the hill, along with the rest of the state,” said Sarma.
A recent poll by 'Jan ki Baat' gave BJP alliance a clear majority with 31-37 seats over Left Front's 23-29 seats. It conducted a large 30,000 sample and extensively covered all the state constituencies. Jan ki Baat poll has raised spirits of BJP for a tough fight ahead. CPI(M) has a huge network of party cadres and a formidable electoral machinery that will stop at nothing to win elections. Terror and intimidation is one of the favourite poll weapons. Apart from terror, Left Front apparatchiks have perfected the art of rigging. Nath, former CPI(M) cadre and former director of census operations says, "Petty bureaucrats and police who man booths are a totally biased lot. They will actively aid in this rigging. Also CPI(M) can make use of 1.7 lakh fake voters on the electoral roll."
BJP doesn't have the cadre strength to stymie the manipulation. What should work though, is the extensive deployment of central paramilitary forces. Nath says, "Central forces should be managed independently, and State police not be allowed into polling stations". Home minister Rajnath Singh is confident that poll tricks can not subvert the mandate of 37 lakh people!
People are rejoicing openly in Modi's rallies, perhaps after a very long while
PM Modi's twin rallies in Tripura had attracted about 2 lakh people and cries of 'chalo paltai' sounded a bugle call for change. In a trademark style of his, Modi led the rally with another catchy slogan to ecstatic response of the crowds at Sonamura and Kailashahar: "Manik hatao, HIRA lao" (remove Manik, accept development). Manik is the Tripura CM Manik Sarkar. HIRA he explained stood for Highway, I-Way, Roads and Airways.
Modi said the 'manik' (gem), that the people of Tripura have been wearing for 25 years, has not brought them any gains. "Will you now take off the manik and wear the HIRA?" Thunderous shouts of "haan" that reverberated throughout the two towns, not only found resonance across the state, but also worried the communists who have ruled Tripura for two and half decades.
PM Modi delivered a stinging rebuke of the Left which, he said, wants to keep people poor in order to cling on to power. Modi insisted that the Left’s politics of deprivation and terror has ruined Tripura. The Left Front government in the state has failed to ensure even minimum wages, he said, while the salaries of state government employees here are the lowest in the country. "Had the conditions prevailing in Tripura been present in any other part of the country, the communists would have agitated and created mayhem. They have hidden the true picture of Tripura from the rest of the country".
Accusing Tripura's Marxists rulers of using terror to perpetuate their stay in power, Modi also highlighted their corruption and nepotism. He referred to the Rose Valley and other scams, and charged the Marxists with being the direct beneficiaries of these scams. The PM then promised that once the BJP comes to power in the state, it will implement the 7th Pay Commission awards for state employees, sanction Rs 5300 crore aid for development projects, provide uninterrupted power and water to every household, facilitate trade and provide business opportunities, provide vocational and technical training to the youth, and fast-pace infrastructure development.
Significantly, every time Modi attacked the Manik Sarkar government on corruption, lack of development or terrorising of the people, he drew thunderous cheers. This is also noteworthy because people don't attend a rally of any opposition leader out of fear, let alone raise slogans against the Left. 'Chalo paltai' slogan was raised not just when huddled safely in massive crowds of the two rallies, but even as they dispersed they had this exhortation on their lips.
https://swarajyamag.com/politics/report-from-ground-zero-pm-modi-draws-massive-crowds-in-twin-tripura-rallies
Results of 3 NE state election will be out on 3rd March. Tripura goes to polls on 18th February and other 2 NE states (Nagaland & Meghalaya) will poll on 27th February.
"Chalo paltai" (come, let’s change) is an outcry against the strictures of authoritarian rule of CPI(M), and also a clamour for a bright new future under BJP. Tripura is an underdeveloped and poverty-stricken state that has voted in communist majorities for over 2.5 decades. Imprint of the ruling party—desperate to keep its only stronghold—is hard to shake, particularly for BJP which is a remote outsider. What gives credence for a probable saffron wave is that over two lakh people came in back-to-back rallies of PM Modi. That so many people are openly defying the communist terror machine, is according to one observer, nothing short of a revolution. These numbers attest that a sizeable part of the electorate has already been captured. It's also unthinkable to see lotus-emblazoned flags of the BJP fly merrily alongside hammer-and-sickle print of the CPI(M) in every nook and corner of the state. Such open mutiny—more so from their homes—would normally invite dire consequences like denial of food rations and other government benefits, social boycott, physical attacks and even forced expulsion from the village!!
According to a BJP state leader, there is a groundswell of support for BJP and resentment towards the ruling party. “CPI(M) has deliberately kept them in poverty and as a result Tripura is underdeveloped and backward. People know how the rest of the country is progressing and they too want to go ahead in life. Patience has run out, hence they have revolted.” Congress has been hollowed out and no longer trusted. It is blamed for taking favours and secretly aligning with the communists. Trinamool Congress which had artificially gained support on back of large amounts of tainted monies, has switched en mass to BJP. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam FM says BJP has shown guts to take on CPI(M) head-on and that impressed the people. It also has a solid track record for development and good governance.
BJP has aligned with Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), who populate hill areas of North & East Tripura. In the recent past they have been in conflict with Bengali-speaking migrants from Bangladesh. IPFT dominates 20 out of 60 assembly seats, and though they too have voted in CPI(M), their representation and demands have been completely neglected. "We have given the tribals the confidence that when we come to power, there will be development in the hill, along with the rest of the state,” said Sarma.
A recent poll by 'Jan ki Baat' gave BJP alliance a clear majority with 31-37 seats over Left Front's 23-29 seats. It conducted a large 30,000 sample and extensively covered all the state constituencies. Jan ki Baat poll has raised spirits of BJP for a tough fight ahead. CPI(M) has a huge network of party cadres and a formidable electoral machinery that will stop at nothing to win elections. Terror and intimidation is one of the favourite poll weapons. Apart from terror, Left Front apparatchiks have perfected the art of rigging. Nath, former CPI(M) cadre and former director of census operations says, "Petty bureaucrats and police who man booths are a totally biased lot. They will actively aid in this rigging. Also CPI(M) can make use of 1.7 lakh fake voters on the electoral roll."
BJP doesn't have the cadre strength to stymie the manipulation. What should work though, is the extensive deployment of central paramilitary forces. Nath says, "Central forces should be managed independently, and State police not be allowed into polling stations". Home minister Rajnath Singh is confident that poll tricks can not subvert the mandate of 37 lakh people!
People are rejoicing openly in Modi's rallies, perhaps after a very long while
PM Modi's twin rallies in Tripura had attracted about 2 lakh people and cries of 'chalo paltai' sounded a bugle call for change. In a trademark style of his, Modi led the rally with another catchy slogan to ecstatic response of the crowds at Sonamura and Kailashahar: "Manik hatao, HIRA lao" (remove Manik, accept development). Manik is the Tripura CM Manik Sarkar. HIRA he explained stood for Highway, I-Way, Roads and Airways.
Modi said the 'manik' (gem), that the people of Tripura have been wearing for 25 years, has not brought them any gains. "Will you now take off the manik and wear the HIRA?" Thunderous shouts of "haan" that reverberated throughout the two towns, not only found resonance across the state, but also worried the communists who have ruled Tripura for two and half decades.
PM Modi delivered a stinging rebuke of the Left which, he said, wants to keep people poor in order to cling on to power. Modi insisted that the Left’s politics of deprivation and terror has ruined Tripura. The Left Front government in the state has failed to ensure even minimum wages, he said, while the salaries of state government employees here are the lowest in the country. "Had the conditions prevailing in Tripura been present in any other part of the country, the communists would have agitated and created mayhem. They have hidden the true picture of Tripura from the rest of the country".
Accusing Tripura's Marxists rulers of using terror to perpetuate their stay in power, Modi also highlighted their corruption and nepotism. He referred to the Rose Valley and other scams, and charged the Marxists with being the direct beneficiaries of these scams. The PM then promised that once the BJP comes to power in the state, it will implement the 7th Pay Commission awards for state employees, sanction Rs 5300 crore aid for development projects, provide uninterrupted power and water to every household, facilitate trade and provide business opportunities, provide vocational and technical training to the youth, and fast-pace infrastructure development.
Significantly, every time Modi attacked the Manik Sarkar government on corruption, lack of development or terrorising of the people, he drew thunderous cheers. This is also noteworthy because people don't attend a rally of any opposition leader out of fear, let alone raise slogans against the Left. 'Chalo paltai' slogan was raised not just when huddled safely in massive crowds of the two rallies, but even as they dispersed they had this exhortation on their lips.
https://swarajyamag.com/politics/report-from-ground-zero-pm-modi-draws-massive-crowds-in-twin-tripura-rallies
Results of 3 NE state election will be out on 3rd March. Tripura goes to polls on 18th February and other 2 NE states (Nagaland & Meghalaya) will poll on 27th February.
1
2
- How to rig elections in ways you can imagine and ways you can’t
1) Inflating the electoral rolls with fake voters
2) Terror and Intimidation
3) Co-opting poll officials and policemen
4) The actual rigging takes many forms
▬ Impersonating voters
▬ Booth-jamming
▬ Booth-manipulation
▬ 'Blind' voters
5) Trickery eg replicas of EVMs
6) 'Managing' police and Central forces
7) Winning over Central Observers
CPI(M) deploys many tactics in a planned sequence and coordinated manner:
1) Inflating the electoral rolls with names of fake voters:-------------------------------------------------------
Revision of electoral rolls is carried out by state officials, almost all of who are aligned with the CPI(M). Nath says that these officials have inserted fake names in the rolls. On polling day, CPI(M) cadres vote for them.
2) Terror and Intimidation:------------------------------------
CPI(M) cadres and musclemen create a climate of terror and fear before the elections. They physically restrain opposition candidates from canvassing, disrupt opposition rallies & election meetings, and issue threats—overt and covert—to opposition workers and voters. In the rural and semi-urban areas, they stop supporters of Opposition parties from voting. On the day of polling -- or day or night before polling -- Left's musclemen create a climate of fear by moving around villages and towns in bikes, armed with rods and other lethal weapons.
3) Co-opting poll officials and policemen:-----------------------------------------------------
When poll officials and policemen reach a polling station the day before polling, local CPI(M) workers lavishly welcome them, by feasts and other such inducements.
4) The actual rigging takes many forms:-----------------------------------------------------
(A) Impersonating voters: Genuine voters are asked to stay at home and their votes cast by CPI(M) cadres with the help of pliant polling officials.
(B) Booth-jamming: The CPI(M) deploys a few score fake voters to queue in front of booths around mid-morning and noon when most people go out to vote. These fake voters, whose names don't figure on the rolls of that particular booth and who don't have any documents, argue with polling officials and take a lot of time. As a result, genuine voters have to wait for long periods and many ultimately lose their patience and return home without casting their votes. Their votes are then cast by the Marxist cadres.
(C) Booth-manipulation: This consist of a series of manoeuvres. The EVM in most booths are placed near an open window in full or partial view of CPI(M) cadres. Voters are warned that they would be watched, and a wrong vote would cost them dear. In connivance with pliant polling officials, communist cadres also reduce the heights of the enclosures around the EVMs so voters can be watched.
Poll agents of Opposition parties are often told to stay away from the polling stations, are beaten up or chased away. As a result, there is no representative of opposition candidates to protest the rampant malpractices and rigging in polling stations.
Polling officials turn a blind eye to the CPI(M) polling agents assisting voters in casting their votes. In the name of such assistance, the CPI(M) polling agents escort genuine voters to the EVMs and cast the vote themselves or ask the voters to press the 'chosen' button.
(D) 'Blind' voters: Opposition parties say in the 2013 Assembly polls, 30,000 voters turned blind -- which is exceptionally high number for 24 lakh voters. In fact, voters with perfect eyesight are told to ‘act blind’ by CPI(M) cadres and taken to polling booths where pliant poll officials accept their disability, and allow CPI(M) cadre to escort them to the EVMs.
5) Trickery:---------------
This can assume various forms. In the 2013 Assembly polls, for instance, the CPI(M) made replicas of EVMs and held demonstrations for voters in rural and semi-urban areas a couple of days before the polls. Gullible voters were told that pressing the button in favour of the Left candidate would emit the actual sound while doing so in favour of other candidates would result in the EVMs emitting other sounds. The voters were thus duped into believing that the CPI(M) polling agents inside the polling stations would get to know from sound emitted by the EVM who they had voted for. The result: they voted for the Left candidates out of fear.
6) 'Managing' police and Central forces:------------------------------------------
While the pliant and politicised state police do the CPI(M)'s bidding anyway, the deployment of Central forces is decided by the police at the local level. Thus, the Central forces are kept away from polling stations when the cadres are indulging in malpractices and from areas where they are intimidating voters. On the day of polling, CPI(M) cadres openly threaten voters and indulge in violence to terrorise people. They also warn voters they suspect of being Opposition sympathisers of dire consequences after polling is over. A common threat is: "The Central forces will go away after polling. Who will protect you then?". Such threats work, and when voters see that the CPI(M) cadres have 'managed' the Central forces with the help of the police, they get demoralised and succumb to the CPI(M)'s threats. The whole purpose of deploying Central forces is thus defeated.
7) Winning over Central Observers:--------------------------------------------
This a very subtle and high-stakes operation carried out very discreetly. As soon as Central poll observers land in state capital Agartala, the red carpet is rolled out for them. They are given VVIP treatment, expensive gifts and treated to lavish, multi-course meals. Some upright officers refuse such hospitality, but most don’t and they are thus co-opted. They then turn a blind eye and ignore the nefarious machinations of the CPI(M) cadres in the run-up and on the day of polling. The CPI(M) uses its formidable army of ‘intellectuals’, both in Agartala and in the rest of the country, to reach out to these bureaucrats who are deployed as poll observers in Tripura. Left intellectuals--writers, litterateurs, academics, members of leading think-tanks, artistes and former and serving bureaucrats themselves--are well networked and command a lot of fan following in the country’s bureaucracy. This is leveraged in favour of the party during elections.
In a state where constituencies are small with modest electorates, a difference of a few hundred votes is crucial. Thus, even if the poll process is rigged in a few dozen booths in a constituency, the results can easily be swung in favour of a candidate. In the 2013 Assembly elections, for instance, the margin of the CPI(M) candidate’s victory in one constituency was just 65 votes. In 25 constituencies, the winning margins varied from 200 to 2000 votes, from 2000 to 3000 votes in ten seats and above that in 14 seats. Thus, every vote in Tripura is crucial.
REPLY Feb 11, 2018
Add a comment...
No comments:
Post a Comment