An ultimatum has been served to the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) by ruling BJP, to clarify the latter’s decision regarding alliance with The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) ahead of the election to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
BJP MP from the East Tripura parliamentary constituency, Rebati Tripura said, “There will be a meeting between the BJP and the IPFT leaders at Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarma’s quarters today (Tuesday) evening. In the meeting, they (IPFT) should clear their stand – whether they will continue the alliance with (the) BJP or go with TIPRA. After getting their answer, we will decide what to do”.
At Deputy CM Jishnu Debbarma’s official residence, a meeting was held between indigenous BJP MLAs, MPs and leaders on Monday night.
The BJP leadership has urged the IPFT leaders to clear out the latter’s role in the upcoming election in a meeting that will be held on Tuesday evening.
“The future of the BJP-IPFT alliance will depend on this meeting,” said Tripura refusing to say anything on the reports of BJP “castigating” IPFT for bringing up the ‘impractical’ demand for 22 seats in the ADC election.
“In the previous meeting, some of our leaders have asked some specific questions to the IPFT delegation led by AGS Mangal Debbarma. They have failed to answer the questions, and their leaders will have to clear all doubts within a few days,” she said.
Ahead of the ADC polls, the IPFT and other regional parties allied with TIPRA led by royal scion Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman.
Rebita Tripura said, “The people did not know the character of those leaders. But they will not be fooled time and time again.”
The term of the previous Executive Committee ended on May 17, 2020, but the election was withheld due to the COVID-19 situation, prompting the state government to appoint an administrator in the ADC.
The state government was requested to hold the ADC election within 17 May, 2021 after few IPFT-backed lawyers petitioned the Tripura High Court.