Agartala, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ahead of the September 28 Village Committee elections in Tripura’s tribal areas, hectic talks are underway between the ruling BJP and its two tribal-based allies -- the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) -- over seat-sharing arrangements, creating uncertainty over whether the three parties will contest the crucial polls as an alliance.
The BJP is still hopeful of reaching an electoral understanding with its allies, but the TMP and the IPFT have been demanding a larger share of seats besides seeking fulfilment of their respective demands.
TMP supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on Wednesday, in a video message, categorically said that his party would not enter into any electoral alliance if the provisions of the tripartite agreement, particularly those concerning land rights of indigenous tribals, are not implemented.
After prolonged negotiations, the TMP, then in the opposition, signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government on March 2, 2024, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Manik Saha. Subsequently, the TMP, which has 13 MLAs, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024, adding a new dimension to the state's political dynamics. Two TMP MLAs -- Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma -- were inducted into the ministry led by Chief Minister Saha.
State BJP President Abhishek Debroy on Wednesday reiterated that his party was ready to contest all seats in the forthcoming Village Committee elections in TTAADC areas if an electoral understanding with the TMP did not materialise.
Speaking on the sidelines of a special organisational meeting at the BJP state headquarters here, Debroy said the party was preparing for the polls and had already begun election-related programmes.
“We are prepared for all the seats,” he said when asked about the possibility of the BJP contesting the elections independently.
BJP Tripura Central observer Rajdeep Roy said talks on the alliance were continuing and details would be announced at an appropriate time.
“Talks regarding the alliance are going on. Let us see; everything will be told to you at the appropriate time,” he told the media.
The uncertainty comes amid differences between the BJP and its tribal allies over the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement, particularly issues relating to the rights and interests of the indigenous tribal population.
Elections to 4,597 seats in 2,634 constituencies in 587 Village Committees -- equivalent to Gram Panchayats in the non-TTAADC areas -- will be held on September 28 after a gap of 10 years.
Five central BJP leaders -- National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, the party's Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, Northeast Co-Coordinator Rajiv Babbar, central observers Rajdeep Roy and G.R. Rabindra Raju -- arrived in Agartala on Tuesday and held a series of meetings with state leaders over two days to discuss preparations and strategies for the Village Committee elections.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, state BJP President Abhishek Debroy, former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, former state President and Rajya Sabha member Rajib Bhattacharjee, senior ministers including Ratan Lal Nath and other senior party leaders attended the meetings.
Since 2021, the politically important TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council) has been governed by the TMP, led by Debbarma, a former royal scion.
In the April 12 TTAADC elections, the TMP won 24 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP secured only four.
The council administers nearly two-thirds of Tripura's total geographical area of 10,491 square km and is home to more than 12.16 lakh people, of whom nearly 84 per cent belong to indigenous tribal communities. The TTAADC is considered the second most important constitutional and political body in Tripura after the 60-member Tripura Legislative Assembly.
Source: IANS
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