Tripua ADC polls: BJP, IPFT workers protest after both parties agree on seat sharing

After a long debate and persuasion, the Bharatiya Janata Party finally agreed to contest on 11 of the 28 seats.

However, both the parties will field candidates in the remaining three seats, which leaders of both sides have termed ‘friendly fight’.

According to reports, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb convinced BJP leaders in Delhi to agree to the demands of IPFT as breaking ties with the tribal party will reduce the strength of the ruling formation. Not agreeing to IPFT's demand would have attracted more trouble for the CM, especially when he has been facing challenge from a large number of his party MLAs.

After removal of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, an anxious Biplab Deb pursued the top leadership to continue the alliance with IPFT to ensure his survival.

For quite some time, the BJP tribal MLAs have been opposing alliance with IPFT, who they said works against the interests of the saffron party in the tribal areas.

The tribal front leaders, including 10 tribal MLAs and MP Rebati Tripura, hadin a letter appealed to the BJP president to sever links with IPFT and contest the ADC polls alone but it went in vein, party sources said here today.

Soon after the deal, the violent workers of Janjati Morcha (BJP's tribal front) stormed the party office at night and ransacked the furniture protesting against the decision and accusing the leadership of bowing down to IPFT's pressure tactics.

However, party president Dr Manik Saha and other office bearers managed to escape from the attack.

The protesters threatened not to accept the deal and if necessary, the Morcha-selected candidates, will fight as independent contestants.

No leader of Janjati Morcha except Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma attended the joint announcement of candidates on Tuesday night with IPFT leaders.

The Morcha President and Lok Sabha MP Rebati Tripura and other office bearers also did not take part in the deal.

Unhappy with the Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and party leaders in Delhi, yesterday, BJP's tribal lawmakers as well as anti-Biplab MLAs boycotted the celebration of the third anniversary of BJP-IPFT government, which was addressed by PM Modi.

The same situation developed in IPFT, too, as a day after announcing candidates in 18 seats, the party leaders changed the decision and nine of those seats were  given to BJP.

The IPFT candidates, whose names had been announced earlier for the nine seats, have turned hostile and refused to give up their candidature, party sources said.

Reportedly, they have told their leaders that none of them will stay away from the elections and if necessary, they will fight as independent candidates.

The dissident leaders of IPFT have accused its president and Revenue Minister N C Debbarma and General Secretary and Tribal Welfare Minister Mevar Kr Jamatia of anti-party activities in their personal interest and to retain their ministerial berths in the state cabinet.