IPFT is demanding separate tribal state; formal announcement on alliance to be made in a week.
New Delhi: The BJP is inching closer to stitching an election alliance with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), which is demanding a separate state for tribals in the poll-bound northeastern state.
Sources told ThePrint that a formal announcement will be made within a week. Tripura is due to elect a new assembly next month.
The move comes days after IPFT leaders met PM Narendra Modi and were assured that a committee will be constituted to look into their demand for a separate state of ‘Twipraland’.
“The IPFT has met the PM recently and they have been assured of the welfare of the tribes,” said a source. “The PM has told them that tribes will not lose out on development under any circumstances.”
Why IPFT
Twenty of the total 60 seats in Tripura are tribal constituencies and the IPFT has a support base in a majority of them. Sources said there are another 15 seats with a considerable tribal population where IPFT has its presence as well. So, effectively the BJP sets its eyes on all 35 seats.
“IPFT will contest on many more seats. That’s why the alliance is being made,” said the source.
Separate state issue
Meanwhile, the BJP has made its position clear on the issue of a separate state.
“If an alliance is to be stitched, the IPFT has to keep its demand of a separate Twipraland land aside,” the source said.
“We gave priority to governance over our demand of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya while dealing with our allies. We are yet to implement it (Ram Mandir),” added the source.
Asked about the committee that has been promised by the PM, the sources said it would look into the social, cultural and economic conditions of the tribes.
“It will look into the reasons why the demand of a separate state is being made,” said the source.
“It will also explore the possibility of finding a solution to the problem because of which the demand arose. If we can solve this, the demand will automatically go away,” the source added.
N.C. Debbarrma, who leads one faction of the IPFT, said the home ministry will form a committee to look into the separate state and a Gazette notification will be issued soon. He said talks are on with the BJP even though the latter has not taken any stand on the issue.
According to IPFT general secretary Mewar Kumar Jamatia, BJP should not have any objection to their demand since it did not oppose creation of smaller states such as Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.
“The BJP has given us assurance that the committee will be formed before election. IPFT is holding a meeting to determine its future course of action,” Jamatia said.