Agartala, Feb 9: A latest opinion poll on the Tripura assembly elections 2018 predicts a victory for the coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). The survey predicts an end to the 25-year-old rule of CPI(M), claiming that a strong anti-incumbency sentiment exists in the state against the Manik Sarkar-led government.

The opinion poll conducted by News X-Jan Ki Baat said the BJP-IPFT combine would win 31-37 seats in the legislative polls, whereas, the incumbent CPI(M) would be restricted to 23-29 constituencies.

Meanwhile, the Congress, which is the primary Opposition in the outgoing assembly, may fail to register victory in any of the seats, the survey claimed.

Party Seats Projected
BJP-IPFT 31-37
CPI(M) 23-29
Congress 0
Others 0

As per the pre-poll agreement between the BJP and the IPFT, the latter is contesting on 11 seats -- out of the 20 tribal constituencies -- whereas, the saffron ally has fielded candidates on 44 constituencies.

In the assembly elections of 2013, CPM swept Tripura with a brute majority. The Left Front won 50 seats, whereas, the Congress emerged victorious on 10.

In this round of the polls, however, the CPM faces an uphill task with discontentment among the state's tribals, along with urban populace, over the lack of development and employment opportunities.

The BJP has undertaken an aggressive campaign in the state, raising the slogan of Chalo Paltai (Let's bring the change). While addressing a poll rally in Sonamura on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a veiled jibe at the chief minister, saying the time has come when Tripura should reject the "Manik (gem)" and elect the hira (diamond)".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 09, 2018 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).