BJP seeks alliance with tribal parties for Tripura Village Committee polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to resume negotiations with its tribal allies, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), to form an alliance for the upcoming Village Committee elections. These elections will take place under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which governs approximately 70% of the state's land.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha traveled to New Delhi to meet with TMP leaders, including party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, in the presence of central BJP leadership. The move follows instructions from the BJP's central leadership to strengthen organizational ties and explore a joint contest to avoid the split that occurred during the April TTAADC elections. In those previous elections, the TMP won 24 of the 28 seats, while the BJP won only four.

The upcoming polls include 587 Village Committees and more than 20 urban local bodies. Chief Minister Saha also expressed the government's willingness to engage in dialogue with surrendered militants regarding their specific demands and issues.