September 28, 2018: Scaling up pressure on ruling ally BJP, regional IPFT has announced that it may go alone in upcoming Lok Sabha Polls. Meanwhile, a meeting of the committee with leaders of BJP and IPFT is continuing today till midnight. The Committee was formed to strengthen understanding and sort out differences between the activists of BJP and IPFT.
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Agartala today, IPFT spokesperson Mangal Debbarma said, IPFT is contemplating on fielding its candidates for both the Lok Sabha seats in the Tripura subject to failure of dialog with other parties.
“IPFT will contest Tripura two Lok Sabha seats in 2019 alone if no political party approach us for negotiation”, Mangal Debbarma said. The announcement came in close heels of BJP’s decision to field BJP candidates in both the Lok Sabha seats in Tripura. After party’s State Executive Committee meeting on September 26 last, BJP State president cum Chief Minister Biplab Deb told media that BJP will contest in both the seats along with IPFT.
Even though BJP made it clear that the saffron party will contest LS Poll along with its ally IPFT, the IPFT leader’s statement indicated that they need elaborate discussions before agreeing on BJP’s announcement.
During the press conference, Mangal Debbarma hailed the Central Government’s move to constitute a High Level 12-member team to look into social, economic, cultural and linguistic issues of the indigenous population of Tripura. The Committee led by the Special Secretary, Internal security (IS) under Ministry of Home Affairs was constituted on September 27 (Thursday last) and will submit its report within 60 days.
