BJP in Tripura has officially announced its alliance with IPFT. The IPFT will contest in nine seats in the upcoming elections on February 18.
Assam Finance Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday officially announced BJP’s alliance with IPFT.
Speaking to reporters in the sideline of a BJP party convention at the Agartala town hall here he said, “BJP and IPFT have decided for alliance and seat sharing in the coming election. IPFT will contest from nine seats out of the 20 ST reserved seats. BJP shall contest from remaining 51 seats.”
Sarma in presence of BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb and central observer Sunil Deodhar informed that the alliance has been on BJP’s assurance on socio, cultural and economic development of the tribal people and the final common plank with IPFT shall be published soon.
“BJP has closed the door for other parties though individually anyone with winning possibility may join and contest with a BJP symbol because too many symbols confuse the voters,” he added.
On the issue of the separate tribal state Twipraland the Assam Minister who is also the BJP Tripura election in charge said, “Once we come to power there shall be no demand for separate Twipraland. This issue is raised by the CPI-M party as they have no agenda on development and are frustrated since they have realized that this time it will not be possible to divert the people to issue like insurgency.”
He suggested CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar to think something new forgetting the old vintage formula to divide people spreading rumours.
CPI-M has been targeting the IPFT and BJP alliance terming it ‘unholy and mask of the militants’.
Meanwhile, INPT chief Bijoy Hwrhankal who is leading the indigenous alliance along with NCT and Twiprasa said that there is no reasonability in the BJP alliance declaration.
On the other hand Congress leader and Tripura election in charge Bhupen Bora viewed that his party is likely to contest alone from all 60 constituencies as TMC and other tribal parties are demanding more seats which is not acceptable.