Tripura CM talks about BJP-IPFT alliance; Dy CM holds talks with IPFT
Even as dates for District Council Polls in Tripura are yet to be announced, Political events are unfolding one after another. On February 20, 2021, ruling BJP’s alliance partner in Tripura, IPFT ended all speculations and forged an alliance with Tripura Indigenous Progressive Alliance (TIPRA) without severing ties with BJP. Importantly, it was said that IPFT and TIPRA would contest upcoming District Council Polls in Tripura together.
Notably, led by Royal Scion of Tripura Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, TIPRA was formed to unite regional parties of Tripura under one umbrella with a slogan for greater Tipraland.
Close on heels of such a development, two crucial events grabbed attention of the State as well as netizens. And both the events took place almost at the same time – Saturday evening.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb talked about the alliance with IPFT and a crucial meeting between the leaders of BJP and IPFT also took place.
The Chief Minister went to Raj Bhawan today evening and after the meeting he interacted with media. During the interaction, Deb cleared the cloud of speculations hovering over the alliance between BJP and IPFT saying that the ruling alliance would remain intact.
“The alliance between BJP and IPFT has been done prior to the elections and the alliance has to go a long way. In BJP, there is a system for alliance and everything is being taken care of. The alliance between BJP and IPFT is still strong enough”, the Chief Minister said while replying to a query after meeting Governor Ramesh Bais on Saturday evening.
On being asked about the joint press conference of TIPRA and IPFT, he said, “There is nothing new in this. I do personally share good relations with Pradyot Debbarman. I have nothing to say in specific regarding the issue”.
The Chief Minister also seemed optimistic about the ensuing West Bengal elections and said that the BJP would certainly form government in West Bengal. He said, he would leave for the West Bengal for campaigning as per the list of star campaigners for the party on February 23 next.
In the meantime, a marathon meeting was held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma. According to sources, a preliminary discussion on the sharing of seats between BJP and IPFT for the ensuing Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections was held during the meeting. The meeting that continued for over two hours assumed to be significant as it came close on the heels of IPFT’s understanding with TIPRA.
On behalf of IPFT, assistant general Secretary Mangal Debbarma and two central committee members- Krishnakanta Jamatia and Brajalal Debbarma were present while Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Verma, MLA Ramapada Jamatia and Tinku Roy represented BJP in the meeting.
When contacted, IPFT chief and cabinet member N.C. Debbarma confirmed that a meeting was held but he remained tight-lipped to share any further details.
“I am still to get any feedback from the leaders who participated in the meeting. So, it would not be possible for me to talk about as to what transpired in the meeting”, Debbarma said.
NC Debbarma also denied making any specific comment on alliance with BJP.
According to BJP sources, another meeting is likely to come up in presence of the central leadership where modalities of the seat sharing will be laid and a final conclusion will be drawn.
Keeping a close tab on the developments, Political analysts are not ruling out further re-alignment of Political forces in the State before the TTAADC Polls.