Red Has Been Replaced with Saffron in Tripura; BJP CM Takes Over

Agartala: The political hue of Tripura has changed from red to saffron, and perhaps at no other place is the transition more evident than in the state capital, where a BJP government took charge for the first time. The sprawling Assam Rifles ground hosted the grand swearing-in function. Giant posters bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah dominate the landscape in Agartala as slender palm trees swung in the air.

From the airport to the venue, BJP flags lined up both sides of the street, as party workers wearing saffron celebrated in the streets. Security was heightened in the capital city as the prime minister and many other dignitaries attended the ceremony. From airport to guest houses, personnel of Tripura Police, Tripura State Rifles, Central Reserved Police Force kept a tight vigil. Special commandos from Delhi were also on the job. Chief ministers of various states streamed in to attend the function, hailing the victory of the party, which decimated 25 yeas of uninterrupted rule of the CPI (M)-led Left Front government in the north eastern state.

"A 100-ft-long stage was erected for the big function. This is a big day for us as it marks a political transition for the state. The victory has been made possible by the development work of Modiji that has inspired our workers in Tripura to work for a change," BJP general secretary Ram Madhav told PTI here. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the rise of the BJP in Tripura also shows the "fall of the Left" in the country. "Red has been replaced (with saffron) in Tripura. Left is losing its ideology in the country and its support base is eroding. The new government firmed here is an endorsement of the vision of Modiji and the popularity that he enjoys," he said. "I have come from one end of the country to the other for the ceremony, passing by many BJP states. Change will happen more as we progress ahead," he added. Long-time RSS volunteer Biplab Deb took the reins of Tripura's chief minister today at the grand ceremony along with his council of ministers.

PTI