By IANS,
Udaipur/Kailashahar (Tripura) : The country’s lone Left Front government in Tripura has to be voted out in the 2013 polls for the development of the state, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said Thursday.
“All factions of Congress leaders and workers have to work unitedly, taking support of the people to oust the Left government in Tripura in 2013 assembly polls,” Gandhi said while addressing a public meeting in Tripura’s temple city Udaipur, 55 km south of state capital Agartala.
Amidst cheers, he added: “Whatever support and assistance is required, the central party leaders are ready to extend to throw out the Left government from power by democratic means.”
“In Russia, communism has been eliminated. Chinese communists are asking us what the future of Indian Left parties is,” he said.
“Go to villages and the doorsteps of the people. Fight for their cause. Only the Congress party can drive out the Left from power and save the people from their misrule,” the 41-year-old MP told the party cadres.
He addressed another gathering at northern Tripura’s Kailashahar town, some 130 km north of Agartala.
“The Left parties have been voted out from power in Kerala and West Bengal. People of Tripura would certainly give the same verdict in the next assembly polls,” Gandhi said.
He said that that though the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has been providing huge funds under various flagship programmes, their proper utilisation was not being done by the state government.
“Communist party cadres are making money and palaces, forgetting the poor and tribal people,” he said.
The Congress general secretary told the people: “Your money is not reaching you. The money is being diverted midway to ruling party leaders.”
He alleged that the Left government in the state was responsible for the poor condition of roads, educational institutions and health services.
“It is very unfortunate to know that Tripura is moving backward when the country is marching ahead in all fronts. Lakhs of educated unemployed are seeking jobs. Over 50,000 posts in Tripura government remain vacant,” he added.
Gandhi, accompanied by other party leaders, arrived in Tripura Thursday from Nagaland via Assam’s main city of Guwahati.
He addressed several meetings Wednesday in Nagaland, ruled by the Naga People’s Front (NPF)-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland.
The two non-Congress ruled states go to polls in 2013.
Gandhi left for New Delhi later in the evening.