Agartala, Feb 16 (IBNS): The campaign for the Tripura Assembly poll will end on Friday, media reports said.
The election will be held on February 18.
The state is witnessing a tough fight between incumbent Left and emerging BJP.
Manik Sarkar, who is the poorest Chief Minister of the country, is leading the CPI-M-led Left Front government in the state for 25 years.
Manik Sarkar is the longest serving Chief Minister of any state followed by late Jyoti Basu, who was at the helm in West Bengal.
The campaigns in the state were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for the February 18 poll.
Addressing an election rally in Sonamur on February 8, 50 km south-west of the state capital Agartala, Modi said his government at the Centre was working to develop the whole northeast India.
"The BJP government at the Centre is working with all sincerity for all round progress of northeast India. But Tripura remained backward and people of the state remained underdeveloped due to misrule of Left parties for the past 25 years," he said.
The PM said the Centre has already chalked out an all-round development plan for Tripura with a focus on '3T'.
"We are focusing on 3Ts for Tripura - Trade, Tourism, Training of the youth so that they get opportunities to shine," he said.
Modi has also said the BJP, if voted to power, will make 'New Tripura'.
On the other hand, Shah has asserted that it is the BJP which will form the next government in the state.
Addressing a press conference in the state capital days ago, Shah said: "Firstly I want to assure that the next government in Tripura will be formed by the BJP."
Accusing the CPI-M of poor performance in the state, Shah said: "People have anger over the misrule of CPI-M government across the state. Due to the CPI-M rule, the state is
still backward in terms of development."
He even claimed that the states ruled by the BJP or NDA are ahead in development. "States ruled by the BJP and NDA are far ahead in development, in terms of electricity, water supply, infrastructure, business" Shah said.
He even attacked Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his government for the rise of unemployment in the state. " In 25 years of CPM rule, the number of unemployed youths rose to 7.33 lakh from 25,000."
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is expected to arrive in the state to boost his party, which was barely present in the campaign trails.
The BJP, which has stormed the north and northeast India in last few years, is trying to keep its footprint in the eastern state of India.
CPI-M and CPI together are having 51 out of total 60 Assembly seats in the state.
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