Prime Minister Narendra Modi  on the first round campaign for February 16 assembly elections in Tripura and addressing a large election rally  ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally’ at Kulai Thakurpalli paddy Maidan, Ambassa under Dhalai district  on Saturday afternoon called upon the people to reconstitute the second ‘double engine’ government of the state for all round development.

Soon after arrival at Agartala airport, PM Modi had been cordially received at the airport by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma and a host of BJP leaders at the airport and flew straight to Ambassa to address the rally through special chopper of Air Force. At the beginning of his speech Modi in his usual style recalled late N.C.Debbarma and paid tribute to him. “I have learned a lot from him but unfortunately, he is no more and I am missing him this time; we consider ourselves fortunate that the government conferred the ‘Padmasri’ award on him,” said Modi.

He said that voting for the Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) would give a route for returning of violence and corruption in the state. PM Modi through his scathing attack against the Communist and Congress without taking names said that one party rule existed in the state earlier and the flag of the same party was the only seen during elections. He said that during the previous regime, Tripura had 'chanda' (donation) raj and people had to give 'chanda' to the CPI(M) for every affair.

Highlighting the achievements of both central and state government, the Prime Minister said that the BJP government had implemented the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), benefiting more than one lakh state government employees and the women were subjected to severe atrocities earlier, but the BJP had been empowering them after 2018. The Prime Minister said that the government had taken up a plan to prioritise the development of 110 districts of the country and Tripura's Dhalai was one among the list.

All villages of the state would be connected to each other and to the world through an optical fibre cable network, the Prime Minister said. He added that the state would also be connected with Bangladesh through rail, air and waterways.

Modi said that under various schemes, concrete housing, health services and livelihood are being provided to the people of Tripura and three lakh people have already given houses under the PM-Awas Yojana.

The Prime Minister stated that over two lakh ailing people of the state benefited from the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The BJP government had recently built a dental college in the state. Said the PM. He also blamed the Congress and the Left government for allegedly making the people of the state as victims under their misrule. The Prime Minister said that to utilise bamboo resources, the Central government has relaxed the law relating to the bamboo.

While, referring to the party's manifesto - 'Sankalp Patra 2023,' released by party chief J P Nadda on Thursday, Modi asserted that the ‘Sankalp Patra’ released by BJP gives a clear indication of the road-map set out for development of the state. “Work on making the Chraibari-Agartala national highway is in progress, all the villages of the state are being connected by optical fibre and Tripura is now reaching global level” said Modi, adding that very soon Tripura will be the gateway to southeast Asia. He also asserted that Tripura will soon have ports and the airport here will be converted into an international airport. Urging the people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP to keep their 'double-engine government' running in the state, Modi claimed that BJP leaders had been working tirelessly to achieve optimum results from HIRA (Highway, I-way, Railway and Airway) and said the governments has done commendable work.

Modi said that his party had initiated several schemes for the betterment of tribals living across India including Tripura and said that education would be provided in local languages under the New Education Policy-2020. He also said that over 37,000 displaced Reang tribes are being rehabilitated in the state. The Prime Minister has also addressed another election rally in Udaipur under Gomati district of the state. Modi is likely to address a rally in Agartala on February 13, a day before the end of the campaigning for the assembly elections, which will be held on February 16.