Tripura Election: what foes-turned-friends Congress, Left Front are promising in manifestos

Since before Tripura attained full statehood in 1972 till 2018, its politics was dominated by first the Congress, and then the Left front. Left parties ruled the state for 35 years - 25 of them in an unbroken streak. But five years ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party staged a grand upset.

Now, the Congress and Left have turned into friends from enemies, forming an alliance to try and dethrone the BJP. Both released separate manifestos while also promising a common minimum programme.

Here are some highlights from the Congress vision document.

After winning Himachal Pradesh with the old pension scheme promise, Congress has included it in the Tripura manifesto. Also part of the document is a twice-a-year dearness allowance hike for government employees. The party says it will create 50,000 job opportunities, and also increase labour wages according to consumer price index inflation.

Congress says it will make 150 units of electricty free. It has also promised a 20-point programme to help the poor and middle class. The party says that it will support the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill which will create tribal bodies at the village and municipal levels.

Congress has also promised to resolve the issue of more than 10,000 teachers being sacked due to a legal tussle over recruitment rules. It also promised better remuneration to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers.

The manifesto released by the Left Front addresses many of the same issues.

The Left has also promised a return to the Old Pension Scheme, and bi-annual dearness allowance hikes. It has promised the creation of 2.5 lakh new jobs, as well as the reinstatement of the 10,000 retrenched teachers.

The Left says it will grant a high level of autonomy to the tribal council. For the poor, a Left government would ensure 200 days of work every year. Contract workers would also be regularized.

On the social security front, the Left parties have promised a senior citizen pension to those with annual incomes below ₹1 lakh.