Agartala: The Congress in Tripura has all but vanished, with every legislator having switched allegiance to the BJP. The party, however, has fielded 59 candidates for the 60-member Assembly, its highest since 1978. Eleven of them are below 40 years, hoping to attract young voters.

The Tripura royal family had handed the kingdom to the Congress party through a Merger Agreement on September 9, 1949 because to them the party embodied India. The royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, still addressed as Maharaj by the people, has remained with the Congress steadfastly "in the face of the BJP's tempting offers (chief ministership to MP to cash)", in these elections.

Speaking to The Telegraph at his beautiful Ujjayanta Palace here, the 39-year-old said: "I'm not comfortable with the BJP's ideology. Everything I have is Tripura. I hope I have matured, become an empathetic listener who can make my people feel welcome. They see me as the local lad and I will always be here for them."

Asked how he hopes to revive the party, the royal scion is candid, "The Congress will have its own narrative - a positive story connecting with the generation that has suffered. Our workers will be active for the next five years, building a relationship with the masses."

Perched on the threshold of a role at the national level, the Congress leader said though he doesn't foresee any seats for his party in these elections, an 8 per cent vote share is likely. "Employment, tourism, trade, entrepreneurship through smart bureaucracy and infrastructure is a priority, as is the need to equip youths with job skills with proficiency in English," he added.