AGARTALA / GUWAHATI, May 19 (TIWN): BJP’s inroad into Assam Assembly Poll brought cheers in neighboring Tripura as Manik Sarkar’s 22 years rule pushing state towards dark economic future. Sarbanand Sonowal, a low-profile man but always sporting an infectious smile, is now all set to be Assam's second tribal chief minister after legendary Jogen Hazarika in the 1970s.Due to Manik Sarkar’s two decades of paid media exercises and pocketing of most of the Tripura based national media journalists by the lure of extra money, Govt accommodation to jobs for their wives, so an image is created in Country about the small North Eastern hilly state Tripura to be a peaceful state, which is being ruled under the regime of the “poorest” CM of the country Manik Sarkar.The 53-year-old former president of influential All-Assam Students Union, who hails from the Kachari tribe, brings in a unique synthesis of tribal leadership and Hindutva politics in governance-starved Assam.

Sonowal's being a tribal suited both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP in their quest for power beyond river Brahmaputra in the northeast. With his staunch opposition to the illegal migrants from Bangaldesh, Sonowal gave legitimacy to the Hindutva politics of a 'north Indian party' among the tribals in the northeast.

"BJP was always an accepted political force for upper caste Hindu Assamese, but Sonowal and few others like tea tribe leader Kamakhya Tassa gave BJP new footholds. The election results in Assam today exemplify that paradigm shift and hopefully its a new beginning under Sonowal," says Guwahati-based political analyst Ratnadeep Gupta. 

It goes to Sonowal's credit that he could deliver Assam to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah in an election where the so-called 'Modi wave' of 2014 was either on the wane or simply non-existent.

Trends available so far suggests Sonowal's presence actually helped BJP which portrayed itself as a pro-tribal outfit for the first time. This brought in huge dividends. Besides Sonowal's own Kachari tribe, other communities like Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Sootea and the Tea tribes too flocked to the BJP. 

These tribals from the plain have a significant presence in upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Golaghat, Sivsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji.

The fact that BJP has overthrown a government which ruled for 15 years is significant because in 2011 the saffron party was an 'also-ran' with only six seats in the assembly.

Delighted by the success, Sonowal attributed it to the "family-like team work" of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, BJP chief Shah and a new entrant Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

The alliance BJP worked out with tribal group Bodo People's Front (BPF) also helped the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). 

Observers feel the basic credit should go to the strategy team which advised BJP leadership to project Sonowal as the chief ministerial candidate and work out an alliance with the Bodo PeopleÂ’s Front (BPF).

In the last assembly election, the BPF was in alliance with the Congress. Till end of November 2015, BJP was not sure about the tie-up with the BPF. But Ram Lal, BJPÂ’s organisational general secretary, had said that only such a tie-up will put the BJP on track in Assam. His calculation seemed to have worked pretty well. 

This alliance did well across the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts -- BTAD comprising Kokrajhar, Kajolgaon, Udalguri and Baksa districts.

The BJP calculation that Bodos can influence results in as many as 25-30 assembly seats in the state also brought in dividends.

Significantly, at a later stage the Bodos had decided to extend support to the Gorkhas, Kalitas, Koch-Rajbongshis and Adivasis for ST status. 

Congress tried an alliance with smaller Bodo group United PeopleÂ’s Party (UPP) but that did not help.

In Tripura since decades, behind all the “peace” there are hidden long enduring frustrations of youths due to unemployment, Govt employees frustration due to poorest pay scales.

Youths here although have accepted life’s depression as natural and Manik Srakar successfully made the people of Tripura to understand that Tripura is a still a far better state than at least other poor states as Bihar, Jarkhand etc. under Manik Govt. since 22 years.

Tripura joined with India in 1949, after that 65 years have been passed, but till day no proper Medical Care / Hospital or pure Drinking water or Employment generation.

Moreover, whatever good things are made with Central Govt funds in Tripura, but due to lack of maintenance everything got spoiled and thus everywhere there is a dull, lifeless situation prevailing over the whole state.

The road-ways of Tripura like NH-44 are in worst ever condition since Independence. Surprisingly, instead of going with the 21st century's trend of IT to Industry to uplift economy, Tripura CM shows no interest in private companies or investments.

Manik Sarkar's ultimate goal is producing more unemployment, hapless youths, who in turn will have no other options other than serving as lifelong CPI-M cadres.

It’s National Highway 44 has become a death trap in every parts of the state and instead of opposition and various media’s protest the condition remains same as Ministers, CPI-M functionaries prefer to travel by Helicopter everywhere.

However, Tripura also stands 4th in crime against women. But the 'poorest' Chief Minister remains silent.

CM utters neither bad nor good of this lawless situation. Infact during his speeches he always scolds the system of the state, and also blames officers for not doing their duties properly. 

Price of daily commodities in Tripura too high. But source of income is very less. From Doctor to Engineers, Lawyers, Professors, Teachers everyone’s common profession is private practice to earn extra cash to support expensive livelihood. Many engineers, who could not manage a job outside the state, so they have to depend upon the private tuition for livelihood.

Lastly, now if one analyses the achievement of Manik Sarkar, it will be cryastal clear that Tripura people were financially screwed by Chit Fund groups like Rose Valley, Sarada etc,  the highest ever scam of India, but unfortunately 'hater of capitalism 'Manik Sarkar himself was present in the inauguration programmes of various Chit Funds.

Tripura Govt. distributed jobs without maintaining the recruitment policy, and after few times in total 10,323 teachers jobs were cancelled by Tripura High Court. The case is still hanging in Supreme court.

Hence, corruption and politics dominates everywhere, but young generation deserve few developments which is lacking in Tripura. 

Even though Tripura has so much talent but no employment or Industries. As a result, one of the most depressing future hold in state. 

Moreover, Tripura has become such a state where every govt dept reels under managementcrisis, either in the petrol pump line, or for job interview, or in ration shops.

Now, it is to be seen if Tripura people are ready to boot out Manik Sarkar led CPI-M  in 2018 Assembly election or will choose cycle of misery.