A possible rift in alliance between the BJP and IPFT seems to have emerged in Tripura.

Just days after the IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura) had announced that it will contest the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) jointly with the Pradyot Deb Barman-led TIPRA (The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance), a meeting between the IPFT and its ally in the State Government was cancelled on Tuesday.

The meeting between the allies – BJP and IPFT was scheduled to take place at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Deb Varman on Tuesday.

However, the meeting was cancelled after top IPFT leaders ‘refused’ to attend it citing hectic schedule.

As per sources, another meeting between leaders of BJP and IPFT has been lined up. The meeting is likely take place on February 26 or February 27.

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On the other hand, after refusing to attend the meeting with BJP leaders, top IPFT leaders including party chief NC Deb Barma and secretary Mevar Kumar Jamatia, met Tripura Royal Scion and chairperson of TIPRA Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman.

Pradyot Deb Barman visited the residence of IPFT chief NC Deb Barma and both the leaders held a meeting that went on for almost an hour.

Several key issues were discussed by both the leaders during the hour-long meeting.

Meanwhile, infuriated by the recent developments in regards to the BJP-IPFT alliance, BJP MP Rebati Tripura lashed out at the IPFT leadership.

Rebati Tripura said, “IPFT leadership does inform us anything in regards to their ‘alliance’ with TIPRA. It is unethical. Being an alliance partner of the BJP in the State Government, how can they forge an alliance with another party?”

Meanwhile, IPFT assistant general secretary Mangal Debbarma tried to put to rest the speculation doing the rounds over possible rift in BJP-IPFT alliance.

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He said that the IPFT’s alliance with the BJP is intact thus far.

“For the past one year we have been pressing the BJP’s central leadership over the ADC election issue and matters related to socio-economic and cultural development of the tribals. But neither the BJP’s central leadership nor the State BJP has responded to our pleas,” said Mangal Debbarma.

Hitting out at BJP MP Rebati Tripura, IPFT leader Mangal Debbarma said, “There was nothing in agreement with the BJP that we cannot have alliance with any other party.”

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