Agartala , Aug 03, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been putting unrelenting efforts to strengthen its base in the tribal dominated areas as per the party’s pre-decided roadmap in the state executive meeting. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha who is also the chief of the party’s state unit has been touring the length and breadth of the state for joining programs and in selected areas substantial development is witnessed, a top party functionary told Tripura Times on Wednesday.

“The BJP is working with the motto of inclusive growth and a model of equitable development in urban as well as the rural areas of the state. Rise of TIPRA is more of the party’s failure to identify the pulse of the public and a well designed parochial campaign but the governance of the party for the last one year has already sparked disappointment. The party feels that rather than staying dependent on an ally, the BJP should expand its own footprints in the tribal areas with the counter narrative of ‘development’ and ‘unity’. It may be time consuming but we feel the results will be sustainable for sure”, a top party leader said requesting anonymity.

On the alliance with IPFT, he said, “The IPFT has already lost its status of being a credible and strong force in face of TIPRA. Even TIPRA has performed much better where IPFT is strong. The ruling party of the ADC has also caused erosion in our support base but we are quite optimistic of regaining our strongholds with persistent efforts of rebuilding the organization block by block. The joining programs held in recent times are evidence of our goals on the other hand IPFT is silent”.

The IPFT leaders, he said, have already left the space for TIPRA which is quite counterproductive for them as well as the BJP which is in an electoral understanding. And, the recent coup engineered by IPFT supremo NC Debbarma ripped apart the party into two equally strong factions.

“It is true that power is concentrated in the NC Debbarma led group because all the elected MLAs are under his command but the strength of Mevar Kumar Jamatia should not be considered less. Having served in the post of the party number two for a long period of time, he has also earned a considerable clout among the people. And, if Mevar switches sides with TIPRA which is expected, IPFT will be in serious trouble”, the BJP leader said.

“BJP’s aim is clear; even if it comes second in the tribal areas the party will be certainly forming the next government quite easily. And, thus the party has activated all its wings to focus on that goal. The seats which the party has won in 2018 will be retained for sure even the total tally may rise in the next elections given the Left’s decline across the state”, said the senior BJP leader.