Click to play videoAgartala: As Tripura goes to polls on Saturday, the ruling Left front is ahead of its rivals and many predict that it will be re-elected for the fourth time in the state.
While the Left Front gets ready for the elections, the question everyone is asking is what has kept the Left rule ticking in state for the last 15 years.
Agartala's Shibranshu Chakraborty begins his days rather early these days. With elections round the corner Shibranshu leaves to join fellow Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) workers to campaign for the party.
Its grass-root workers - like Shibranshu - have scripted Left Front's success story in Tripura for the last 15 years.
"I support the Left Front because I know it's a party that delivers on its promises. Every promise made in the past has been fulfilled," says Shibranshu.
But sentiments differ when it comes to assessments in the streets.
"I don't see that much development. For instance, the roads are the same but with new carpeting," a Tripura resident, Sumit Chakarbarty, says.
And the road ahead could be bumpy this time for the Left Front.
Once an ally, the Forward Bloc will contest polls independently this time after disagreements over seat sharing with the CPI-M.
Main rival Congress aided by Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripra (INPT) has stepped up the onslaught as well. Cornered, the Left Front has hit back
"We hope that our results in Tripura will go a long way in forming a third alternative in the country," Gautam Das, CPI-M spokesperson, Tripura, says.
But with eye on Lok Sabha elections next year, the Congress isn't taking the threats lying down.
"You have to stand firm in spite of all threats and all your fears," Sonia Gandhi, AICC President, had said a few days ago at an election rally in the state.
But it's the public image of Tripura's Left leaders, that the Congress may find hard to counter the most.
Facing a resurgent Congress and with a close ally going on its own in the polls the Left Front in Tripura could be bracing for its toughest of challenges in recent times.
But even the Left's bitter rivals, like the Congress, agree that most Left leaders have a clean image and live by example.
"It's a good thing if the Tripura politicians are not as wealthy as others in other states. May be they are more truthful," Prithviraj Chauhan, AICC in-charge of Tripura, adds.
With no immovable property and savings just above Rs 13,000 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar could easily qualify as the poorest Chief Minister of India.
Other Left leaders are also known to have an austere life style. And this has reflected in the Left's march to power in the past.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
 |
 |
 |
|
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
