Agartala: Ahead of a scheduled meeting between senior BJP functionaries and its ally TIPRA Motha in Agartala later on Friday, party chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman reiterated his party’s stance on the upcoming ADC Village Committee elections.He said TIPRA Motha would not enter into a seat-sharing arrangement with BJP unless the Centre made a formal written commitment to implement the tripartite agreement signed before the last Lok Sabha elections.Tripura power minister Ratan Lal Nath was scheduled to hold talks with TIPRA Motha functionaries, including minister Brishaketu Debbarma, MLA Ranjit Debbarma, former chief executive member of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Purnachandra Jamatia, and incumbent chief executive member Runiel Debbarma, in Agartala.The meeting assumes significance as differences over the implementation of the tripartite agreement have come to the fore between the two allies ahead of the village committee elections, scheduled for next month.Sources said BJP’s central leadership had instructed Nath to initiate talks with TIPRA Motha and seek to resolve the issues. Meanwhile, Motha chief Debbarman held a private meeting with party functionaries in Shillong on Thursday to discuss preparations for the village committee elections.After the meeting, he reiterated his party’s position: “Agreement first, alliance later.”TIPRA Motha has maintained that a written assurance from the Centre on implementing the tripartite agreement is essential for any electoral understanding with BJP.Debbarman also said the interests of Tripura’s indigenous population would not be compromised in exchange for ministerial positions or other political benefits. His remarks have led to speculation that TIPRA Motha could contest the 587 village committee seats independently if no agreement is reached with BJP.The meeting in Agartala is intended to discuss the tripartite agreement and explore the possibility of coordination between the two parties for the village committee elections.
