The 1977 assembly election was a turning point in the electoral history of the state. Not only did the CPM manage to replace the Congress in government, it came to power with a thumping majority after winning 51 of the 60 assembly seats. Ever since that election, the CPM has dominated the state’s politics; and the Congress has not been able to revive as a political force after its humiliating defeat. The Congress could not even open its account in 1977.

In a desperate move for its political revival, the Congress has formed an alliance with the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT). As per the arrangement, the Congress has left 11 ST reserved assembly seats for the INPT, and is contesting in only 49. The Congress would be hoping to benefit from the differences that have emerged within the Left Front on the Forward Bloc’s demand for more seats. The Forward Bloc has finally moved out of the Left Front alliance and is contesting the election separately by fielding candidates in 12 constituencies. In most of these constituencies, its candidate would be contesting against the candidate of its dominant alliance partner, the CPM. It remains to be seen if the Congress benefits from the division of Left votes in these constituencies. In many ways, the poll prospects of the Congress in this election depend upon the division of Left votes.

Though the Left supports the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, during assembly elections it attacks the Congress for its ‘anti-people policies’ at the Centre. The influx of the non-tribal migrants in Tripura, an old problem in the state, continues to dominate the election. The Congress is likely to highlight this as the failure of the ruling party. The issues of tribal land alienation, and promotion of the tribal language, Kokborok, are other issues. The results will determine whether the people want a change in government or will give the Left another chance to rule the state.

... contd.