December 24, 2017: Unwilling to relent and drop demand for a separate State, IPFT (NC) literally today turned down any possibility of political pact with BJP unless demand for separate ‘Twipraland’ is accepted. Speaking to media persons today in Agartala, the president of IPFT (NC) Naresh Chandra Debbarma said, the Election Commission of India on December 19 last, allotted and allowed IPFT (NC) to use ‘Takkal’ as party’s election symbol.
NC Debbarma today virtually ruled out any possibility of forming alliance with BJP. He said, “Unless our demand for separate Twipraland is conceded by BJP, our party will not forge poll alliance with BJP. We are ready to fight it alone.”
Referring to meeting between the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and IPFT (NC) leaders, Debbarma said, Rajnath Singh formed a Twipraland Inter-Ministerial Committee to look into the demand. “There is no progress on the issue after formation of the Committee”, NC Debbarma said.
Meanwhile, other tribal based regional parties – INPT and NCT – have decided go for an electoral understanding with BJP and the final call on seat sharing is likely to be announced after upcoming visit of NEDA chairman and Assam Minister Himant Biswa Sharma.
Saying that IPFT will go alone in Assembly polls, he said, the Party will contest in 56 out of 60 Assembly seats.
