May 05, 2018: Cracks are obvious now – relation between BJP and its ally IPFT seems to become sour faster than expected. The IPFT activists today staged road blockade in several areas under Gomati demanding release of IPFT supporters accused of assaulting and intimidating BJP MLA and his family members. After fall of CPIM, a contest ensured between IPFT and BJP to wrest control of Hill areas. Today’s road block was another instance of rift between BJP-IPFT, opined Agartala based Political analysts.
Demanding unconditional withdrawal of cases against 35 IPFT supporters and release of supporters from jail, IPFT today blocked Udaipur-Sabroom National Highway, Karbook-Jatanbari Road, Karbook-Raishyabari Road and Karbook-Hospital Choumuhani Road causing inconvenience to local people including poor tribal people. Moreover, in Karbook, IPFT activists clashed with BJP and TSR jawans had a harrowing time in controlling rampaging IPFT people, sources said. IPFT activists also created panic among common people in Garjee and traders pulled down shutters.
The trouble between BJP and IPFT came into light on April 28 last after a group of miscreants allegedly belonging to IPFT threatened family members of BJP MLA Burbu Mohan Tripura. “On that day MLA was not present in his house and in his absence IPFT people threatened his family members”, sources alleged. On April 30 last, miscreants assaulted Burbu Mohan Tripura near Karbook Bazar while he was returning to his residence from Agartala. In the assault, the MLA received injuries. Later he filed complaint and accordingly Police registered cases against 35 persons. Out of them, two were arrested.
Tension between BJP and IPFT started almost immediately after the State Assembly Poll results were out. In its attempt to establish its control among tribal people, IPFT resorted to all sorts of tactics which did not even spare tribal supporters of BJP. Political analysts opined, the tension, unless addressed immediately, will snowball into major problem – not only the BJP-IPFT alliance, but for the State also.
