BJP open to alliance with Tipra Motha for TTAADC village polls: CM Saha

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that the BJP remains open to an alliance with the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) for the upcoming village committee elections of the tribal council. “Our doors are still open for an alliance… talks between the two parties are still on. A final announcement could be made only after stitching the electoral deal with the TMP,” Saha told the press, adding that the BJP has a tradition of not leaving its partners.

His remarks came a day before the TMP’s crucial organisational meeting on Monday, where party supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma will decide its strategy for the polls. TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma said about 300 leaders are expected to attend the session. He noted that Debbarma has received a call from Delhi for further talks and may visit the national capital after taking feedback from party leaders.

Elections to 587 village committees of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) are scheduled in the first half of September. In the last TTAADC elections, the TMP won 24 of 28 seats despite sharing power with the BJP at the state level.