Tripura Pradesh Congress leaders held a meeting with the main Opposition party, TIPRA Motha Party to explore possibilities of forging an alliance against the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.
Congress party represented by its State Chief Asish Kumar Saha and MLA Sudip Roybarman convened the meeting with the LoP and TIPRA Motha Party MLA Animesh Debbarma and party leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma in Agartala on Friday.
All but Pradyot Kishore shared their views with the media after the meeting.
The meeting, held at the chamber of the Opposition Leader in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, reminded many about the unsuccessful meeting between TIPRA Motha party, Congress and CPIM regarding seat sharing in 2023 Assembly polls.
Even as all the opposition parties stressed the need for preventing split in anti-BJP votes, the talks failed as TIPRA Motha party decided to go solo.
In today’s meeting, Congress leaders, once again highlighted the need for strengthening anti-BJP forces.
While speaking to the media, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman acknowledged minor differences but emphasized the need for opposition votes to unite against fascist forces. He said it is a demand echoed by the state and the country’s populace.
The Congress leader acknowledged Tipra Motha’s fight for their rights and deemed their demands legitimate.
“We have reminded Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and the Opposition Leader that it’s time to make a decision that benefits the people of Tripura as a whole,” said Barman.
He added that Pradyot Kishore, who led the Congress party during the 2019 LS Polls in Tripura as State Congress Chief, shared his thoughts, and discussions had already been held with CPIM state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury.
LoP Animesh Debbarma, in his reaction, recalled the role of late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in creation of TTAADC and increment in number of the ST seats in the State Assembly.
“Thanks to Indira Gandhi, we have an Autonomous District Council here, and due to Rajiv Gandhi, we have three additional Scheduled Tribe reserved seats. Congress understands our issues,” Animesh Debbarma stated post-meeting.
He also announced that the Congress leaders would be heading to Delhi to discuss the alliance with the party’s central leaders, while the Tipra Motha leaders would hold internal discussions on the same.
Following the meeting, Pradesh Congress Chief Ashish Kumar Saha described the discussions as ‘cordial’ and expressed readiness to take any necessary steps to defeat the BJP.
He added that they would consult the party high command to materialize the discussed plans.
