By our correspondent
Agartala, March 14, 2019: The second meeting between BJP and IPFT on seat sharing also fell flat and it appears BJP is not in a mood to buckle under pressure tactics of IPFT on the issue. IPFT demanded East LS seat (ST) – one of the two Parliamentary seats in the State. However, BJP always maintained that the Party would field candidates in both the seats. IPFT’s demand for one seat came up with a threatening that it would contest in both the LS seats if BJP fails to meet their demand.
On Wednesday last, IPFT leaders led by its supremo NC Debbarma held meeting in Agartala with BJP All India general secretary Ram Madhav. As nothing conclusive emerged, it was decided that IPFT leader would meet the BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varman today to settle the issue.
As planned, IPFT leaders led by the Tribal Welfare Minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia met Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varman but decision on seat sharing deferred further. Both Dev Varman and Jamatia said, final call will be made after IPFT’s Central Committee meet on March 16 and 17.
Interestingly, IPFT supremo NC Debbarm did not attend today’s meeting. Moreover, meeting on seat sharing was chaired by BJP’s Jishnu Dev Varman and not by the Party state president Biplab Kumar Deb.
“Absence of two topmost leaders of the parties indicates that both the parties have kept the door open for further discussions on the issue – however, it is obvious that BJP is in no mood to share East LS seat with IPFT”, Political observers opined.
According to political analysts, after two meetings on successive days, the message to IPFT is obvious – BJP will not bow down to any pressure tactics. BJP’s stubbornness on contesting in both the seats also remains no longer under the carpet.
“East LS Seat is crucial for both BJP and IPFT. Saffron party, in its bid to strengthen organization, needs to expand its clout in hills and it will be a political blunder for BJP to sacrifice the East seat”, a veteran journalist said and added, it is safe to mention that BJP will not give up the East seat and IPFT will have to fall in line eventually.
After today’s meeting, Jishnu Dev Varman appeared to be optimistic and said, “IPFT is our ally and they made proposals and we also placed some proposals. We held discussions in a cordial atmosphere”. He, however, declined to shed light on proposals put forward by BJP on IPFT’s proposals.
Mevar Kumar Jamatia had slightly different version – he said, “The meeting was inconclusive. BJP suggested relaxations and accordingly, we also made relaxations. Decision on the issue will be taken after our Central Committee meeting”.
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