Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday said a “change has emerged” with the Communists “coming out of the Lenin-Stalin theories” and “observing the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi”.

A CMO release read, “The Communists couldn’t even imagine observing the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. But the change prevailing in society has compelled them to do so.”

Deb said the BJP-IPFT government had increased the social allowance to Rs 1,000 from Rs 100, as set by the previous Left Front government, and will further increase it to Rs 2,000 before 2023. “The state pays an additional Rs 467 crore for salaries and pensions per month following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and the hike in allowance,” the release said. It said Tripura had registered industrial growth following the state government’s initiatives.