Tripura Civic Polls: BJP, Tipra Motha to Contest Together Under NDA

Tripura’s Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on 1 November that the BJP and its NDA ally Tipra Motha will contest the state’s urban local body (ULB) elections together. He spoke after a meeting of leaders from both parties at the State Guest House in Agartala, according to India Today NE and The Times of India. The elections cover the Agartala Municipal Corporation, municipal councils and nagar panchayats; they are due on 27 November, with counting on 2 December, India Today NE reported.

Seat Numbers Still Not Fixed

The two parties have not yet divided the seats. Nath said Tipra Motha’s proposals would be examined within the BJP and that a decision would follow a meeting of its working committee, with an answer expected on Monday night, 2 November. Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma said his party wants a “respectable share” of seats in the areas where it has an organisation, but he did not give a number.

Nath described the talks as “constructive”. “We will contest the upcoming Urban Local Body elections under the NDA alliance,” he said, adding that the parties had decided to “fight the elections unitedly”.

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From Village Committees to Town Councils

Tipra Motha leaders cited the joint NDA run in the village committee elections of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as the reason for seeking a shared contest in the towns. Those polls were held within the tribal council area, while the ULB elections cover urban wards.

Others at the Agartala meeting included BJP state general secretary Bipin Debbarma, Minister of State Brishaketu Debbarma, and Purna Chandra Jamatia, a member of the district council and a former Chief Executive Member.

Separately, Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a meeting of the BJP’s state unit and asked workers to keep the campaign peaceful, saying the party would not tolerate political violence, according to the reports.

BJP Decision Due After Working Committee

The next step is the BJP’s reply on seat numbers. After that, both parties will have to settle candidate lists before nominations close for the 27 November vote. Neither party has said how many wards each will contest. For more state coverage, see IPB News Daily Updates.

Source: Based on reporting by India Today NE and The Times of India. Also Tripura Times.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.