After Sonia, PM’s swipe at Left Govt

Singh was addressing a Congress election rally in this second most important town of Tripura.

Hitting out at the Left Front Government that has been in power since 1978, except for one term (1988-93), the Prime Minister accused it of failing to bring about any significant change in the lives of the people.

“What has the Left done? Over five lakh young educated people have remained jobless in a small state of 32 lakh. Has there been any development on the economic or industrial front? None,” he said.

Tripura, which has 60 seats in the Assembly, goes to the polls on Saturday.

The Prime Minister spoke of the financial support the UPA Government had provided to Tripura in the past five years.

“Our UPA Government had provided maximum support to the Left Front Government here in the past four years. Yet, no industrial development has happened in the state. Tripura has, in fact, wasted the past 15 years from the point of view of industrial development,” Singh said.

Singh also accused the Left Front Government, headed by Manik Sarkar, of failing to implement the Bharat Nirman programme initiated by the Centre. “Over 350 villages are yet to get electricity,” he said, promising that if Congress came to power, every village will get electricity.

“The youth will get jobs and employment opportunities. Women and tribals will feel safe. We will bring back peace to the whole state. This is our promise,” he said.