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Agartala, Jan 28 (IANS) The ruling CPI-M in Tripura Monday termed the Congress's poll promises to the people as "chit funds" which are "lucrative offers", ahead of the Feb 14 elections to the state assembly. "Like chit funds, the Congress's election manifesto with 321 promises is a lucrative offer for the electorate," Communist Party of India-Marxist Tripura state secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters here. "It (the manifesto) is a desperate attempt to misguide the people and a futile effort to come to power through back door," he added. Dhar also termed the Congress's poll promises as "Bis Kanya" (poison girl). "If you hug her, death is certain." Dhar, also a CPI-M central committee member, said state Congress chief Sudip Roy Barman thanked Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not fielding candidates for the assembly elections, fearing it would help the main opposition party. "Mamata Banerjee is rebuked across the country for her undemocratic style of functioning and the Tripura Congress chief congratulated her for getting the political mileage," the CPI-M leader added. The Congress in its election manifesto, released Sunday, promised to provide seven kg rice free of cost to the extremely poor; 35 kg of rice per month at the rate of Re.1 to the poor; and allowances to jobless youths and farmers in Tripura if voted to power in the polls. Releasing the 32-page election manifesto with 321 promises, Congress general secretary and in-charge of the party's affairs in northeastern states Luizinho Faleiro told reporters that the party is confident of defeating the ruling Left Front and coming to power. The manifesto also promises free laptops to meritorious college students and bicycles to poor school students from Class 10 onwards; waiving off agricultural loans up to Rs.30,000 and allowances to many other needy categories of people. "While releasing the manifesto Faleiro told reporters that the union finance ministry has approved it. How can the government approve the manifesto of a political party? Is it not a violation of the model code of conduct," Dhar said.
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