BJP allies with IPFT in Tripura, says door open to others

GUWAHATI: The BJP on Wednesday announced that it would ally with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), a tribal-based faction led by NC Debbarma.

The convener of the Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and BJP's Tripura election in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the IPFT would contest nine of the 60 seats in the state assembly, while the BJP would contest the remaining 51. He also said the door was open to other parties, but they would have to fight the election under the BJP's symbol.

The seats to be contested by the IPFT are tribal-reserved seats and include Simna, Mandwai Bazar, Takarjala, Ompi Nagar, Manu, Raima velly, Ramchandra Ghat, Asharam bari, and Kanchanpur.


Sarma said that a joint statement is ready and will be published on January 28. He added that the BJP had assured IPFT that it would address the grievances of the tribal peoples of Tripura in the socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural spheres.

One of the IPFT's core demands is the formation of a separate state of Tipraland.

Sarma stated that said BJP would not form any alliance with the other two tribal-based parties - Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and National Conference of Tripura (NCT). “BJP had parleys with these parties; however, talks did not fructify as these parties wanted six seats and BJP was not willing to give more than two seats,” said a senior BJP leader.

BJP’s list of candidates for the Tripura polls is likely to be released on January 28 or 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies on February 8 - one in the south of Tripura, the other in the north.

BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also campaign in the state.