The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura has further strengthened its position in the Janjati dominated Ambasa assembly constituency under Dhalai district ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Over 1300 voters from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) and the main opposition, TIPRA Motha party switched their allegiance to the saffron party on Wednesday, BJP sources said.
Notably, Dhalai district comes under the ST reserved East Lok Sabha constituency where TIPRA Motha Party is believed to have a base.
BJP state committee president Rajib Bhattacharjee visited Ambasa constituency areas today and addressed several public meetings where he welcomed the new entrants to the party.
He also slammed the opposition parties for their alleged misrule and corruption.
The first meeting was held at the Bru Reang settlement camp in Hadulock, where 158 families comprising 482 voters joined the BJP after leaving the Tipra Motha party, which claims to represent the interests of the indigenous people of Tripura, BJP leaders said.
Addressing the new entrants, Bhattacharjee said that the BJP was committed to the welfare and development of the Bru community, who had been living in relief camps for decades in Tripura due to ethnic violence in Mizoram.
The second meeting was held at the BJP party’s main office in Ambasa, where 186 families comprising 567 voters joined the BJP after leaving the CPIM and the Tipra Motha parties.
Bhattacharjee accused the CPIM of ruining the state’s economy and exploiting the poor during its 25-year rule. He also alleged the Tipra Motha party has no vision for the state.
The third meeting was held at a market in Kachuchara, where 338 voters from 96 families of the Tipra Motha party, including a former leader of the CPIM, joined the BJP.
Bhattacharjee said that the BJP was the only party that could protect the rights and culture of the tribal people of Tripura.
He also highlighted the achievements of the BJP-led government at the centre and the state, and urged the people to vote for the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP leaders who accompanied Bhattacharjee in the day-long program included party general secretary Bhagwan Das, Ripon Debbarma, MLAs Manoj Kanti Deb, Shambhu Lal Chakma, district committee general secretary Ashish Bhattacharjee, Shachi Rani Tripura, mandal president Chandan Bhumik, and others.
The BJP, which retained power in Tripura in 2023 Assembly polls is confident of winning both the Lok Sabha seats in the state in upcoming LS polls.
In the 2019 LS Polls, BJP won both the seats defeating now TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma-led Congress and CPIM. The BJP is eyeing to maintain its winning streak as well as increase the victory margins.
As part of its massive expansion initiative, the ruling party already organised several joining programmes in the Janjati areas including the rehabilitated Bru Reang camp areas.
