The ruling BJP’s junior partner, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura
(IPFT), said on Tuesday that it will contest both the Lok Sabha seats
in Tripura while the BJP said no discussion has been held so far.
IPFT
assistant general secretary and spokesman Mangal Debbarma said the
decision was taken by the Central Executive Committee on Monday but no
discussion had been held with the BJP.
The tribal leader said the names of the candidates would be announced soon.
IPFT
vice president Ananta Debbarma said separately that the party had
formed a five-member committee headed by party president and revenue
minister Narandra Chandra Debbarma to formulate the strategies for the
coming general elections.
“We have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections on our own,” Ananta Debbarma added.
BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee said no discussion had been held between BJP and IPFT leaders regarding the Lok Sabha battle.
Tripura’s oldest tribal party — Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) — is yet to decide whether it will contest the Lok Sabha polls alone or in alliance with other parties.
“We are watching the changing political scenario in Tripura,” INPT general secretary Jagadhish Debbarma said.
In
Tripura, the two major non-Left parties — the BJP and the Congress —
always depend on the INPT and the IPFT to gain electoral support from
the tribals, who constitute one third of Tripura’s four million
population.
