BJP plans tie-ups for 2018 Tripura, Meghalaya polls
GUWAHATI: The BJP plans to have alliance with regional parties in Tripura and Meghalaya for next year's assembly polls. Meghalaya is governed by Congress and the Left Front is in power in Tripura. The North East Democratic Alliance (Neda) formed on the initiative of BJP president Amit Shah will come in handy to the party in the two states.
Meghalaya’s United Democratic Party and PA Sangma founded National People's Party (NPP) are Neda members. NPP national executive member James Sangma told ET, “the dynamics has to be worked out. We have started preparations for the polls. We are member of Neda and let us see how seatsharing and other arrangements can be done. Else we will fight alone like we did in Manipur.
We have not finalised anything yet.” Incidentally, NPP helped BJP form the government in Manipur by extending support of its 4 MLAs, after fighting the polls alone. Soon after forming a BJP-led government in Manipur, Neda convener Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that Meghalaya and Tripura were next in the coalition’s radar.
NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma had won the Tura Lok Sabha seat last year against Congress’ Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, in the by-poll held after PA Sangma’s death. This defeat had caused discomfort in the Congress as 22 of the 24 MLAs were from the Garo Hills that falls under the Tura LS seat. Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly.
In Tripura, the Left Front has been governing the state for 34 years. Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), with tribal representation have formed a common platform.
A senior BJP leader, “we are looking to rope in tribal parties for assembly polls. BJP’s popularity, however, is growing in Tripura especially among tribals.” Spokesperson of Tripura BJP, Mrinal Kanti Deb, however, said, “we will contest all 60 seats and will go to polls alone.”
Tribal population plays a crucial role in Tripura, as a third of the 60 assembly seats are reserved for them, apart from one of the two Lok Sabha seats.
Meghalaya’s United Democratic Party and PA Sangma founded National People's Party (NPP) are Neda members. NPP national executive member James Sangma told ET, “the dynamics has to be worked out. We have started preparations for the polls. We are member of Neda and let us see how seatsharing and other arrangements can be done. Else we will fight alone like we did in Manipur.
We have not finalised anything yet.” Incidentally, NPP helped BJP form the government in Manipur by extending support of its 4 MLAs, after fighting the polls alone. Soon after forming a BJP-led government in Manipur, Neda convener Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that Meghalaya and Tripura were next in the coalition’s radar.
NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma had won the Tura Lok Sabha seat last year against Congress’ Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, in the by-poll held after PA Sangma’s death. This defeat had caused discomfort in the Congress as 22 of the 24 MLAs were from the Garo Hills that falls under the Tura LS seat. Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly.
In Tripura, the Left Front has been governing the state for 34 years. Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), with tribal representation have formed a common platform.
A senior BJP leader, “we are looking to rope in tribal parties for assembly polls. BJP’s popularity, however, is growing in Tripura especially among tribals.” Spokesperson of Tripura BJP, Mrinal Kanti Deb, however, said, “we will contest all 60 seats and will go to polls alone.”
Tribal population plays a crucial role in Tripura, as a third of the 60 assembly seats are reserved for them, apart from one of the two Lok Sabha seats.
