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Two months into power, strains appear in BJP, IPFT alliance in Tripura
Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb has warned ally IPFT to stop violence over block advisory committees chairmen nomination.
Two months into power, differences have cropped up between Tripura’s ruling partners, BJP and Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) over the nomination of chairmen of block advisory committees (BAC).
The posts under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) have become a bone of contention between the two parties.
While IPFT has demanded 60% of the BAC chairmen’s posts for their party workers, BJP wants the nominations based on the credentials of candidates.
A group of IPFT supporters blocked the national highway at Sabroom in South district on Tuesday in protest, but withdrew the agitation later.
They had gheraoed Lefunga block in West district on Monday too, besides the Champahoar police station in Khowai district demanding the release of three IPFT workers, arrested over a clash with BJP three days ago.
Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Tuesday warned the IPFT to stop the violence.
“My people are my first priority. Such agitation or violence by IPFT that hamper people’s daily lives are not encouraged. My government will not tolerate if any such incident occurs further from their side,” Biplab Deb told HT, hinting at taking a drastic step.
Deb talked to cabinet minister NC Debbarma, the president of IPFT, on the issue.
Debbarma said the blockade was lifted after getting assurance of looking into their demands.
“Their demands are under consideration,” he said.
A new coordination committee, comprising three members of BJP and two of IPFT, was constituted to maintain harmony among the coalition partners last week following violent incidents over the past two weeks.
