Agartala, Mar 7 (UNI) The ruling BJP’s ally in Tripura government IPFT on Sunday announced to fight alone in ensuing elections to 28 –members Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (ADC) while announcing candidates for 18 seats in 28 members council keeping doors open for others.
The wife of the party's general secretary and Tribal Welfare Minister Mevar Kr Jamatia, Gita Debbarma will contest the election from Teliamura constituency on April 4 next.
"Our talk with some parties are still going on but we have only 10 seats are left to be shared," said IPFT President and Revenue Minister N C Debbarma adding that 17 of them are young, educated and dedicated. Party top leaders Mangal Debbarma, Shukla Charan Noiatia, Budha Debbarma and Prakash Debbarma will also contest the elections.
Earlier, it had leaders had announced to go with royal scion Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman’s NGO turned political platform Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) for fighting against BJP, Congress and CPI-M seeking Greater Tipraland but two days ago IPFT scrapped it on seat negotiation deal.
The dispute aroused over sharing of seats among TIPRA constituents where IPFT was strict to its demand of getting lion share. Several rounds of discussion TIPRA found reportedly offer 10 seats in 28 members ADC, which IPFT rejected.
The IPFT leaders then had a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma and BJP Loksabha MP Party’s tribal front Chief Rebati Tripura to retain the alliance with BJP and fight together in the upcoming election. However, the meeting was inconclusive, as BJP did not agree to offer them more than eight seats.
Mangal said that IPFT would fight alone in ADC claiming that the party has a strong base in the hill, as it has been fighting for the elevation of the status of ADC to Tipraland, direct funding from the centre and getting constitutional autonomy.
UNI BB RN