BJP eyeing more allies in Tripura, holding marathon meeting with NCT, INPT

GUWAHATI: After joining hands with NC Debbarma led faction of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), BJP is now trying to woo with National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT).

The saffron party is holding marathon meetings with the two parties for stitching up a grand alliance for the state poll.

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav and party's election incharge for Tripura, Himanta Biswa Sarma are having marathon meetings with the leadership of NCT and INPT since Sunday.

A senior BJP leader, who do not want to be named, told ET, "BJP is offering these parties two seats while these parties want as many as six seats."

The leader said, "BJP had earlier agreed to give 10 seats to NC Debbbarma's IPFT. There are altogether 20 tribal dominated seats."

The leader added, "Both NCT and INPT has argued that they have a substantial support base and these parties organisation base is capable to fight in six seats."

A section of leaders in state BJP were convinced that by getting the NC Debbbarma's IPFT by the side, the party is on a comfortable footing and there is no need for any alliance with other groups. But a group of local leaders convinced the BJP's leadership that they need to have parleys and gets other groups to the alliance or congress may take them away.

Rajeshwar Debbarma led Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). On Friday last these parties had initial parleys with Congress in Agartala.

Pradyut Debbarma, the working president of congress in Tripura told ET, "We are open to alliance and in past had alliance with INPT. However decision in this regard will be taken by the AICC. It is the sentiment of the people in the state that congress must fight strongly against the Left Front and BJP."

Polls for the 60-member state Assembly would be held in Tripura on February 18 and counting on March 3.