Tribal party snaps ties with Cong, may go with BJP

The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), a major tribal-based party which contested the last Assembly elections as an ally of Congress, today snapped ties with the state's main opposition party and said it might go with the BJP in the next Assembly polls.
"In the just concluded central committee meeting, we have resolved to strengthen our organizational base and maintain a distance from our former ally Congress," party general secretary Jagadhish Debbarma told reporters.
The party is considering forging an alliance with BJP in future to oust the ruling CPI(M) in the next Assembly elections to be held in 2018.

"We might ally with BJP in the next Assembly polls because we cannot fight alone and oust the CPI(M). Our base is mainly in the tribal areas. In future we can ally with BJP. Nothing is impossible in politics," Assistant General Secretary of the party, Rajeswar Debbarma said.
The INPT would go it alone for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls and in the by-election for Manu constituency.
"Manu is a ST reserved constituency. We will not tie up with any political party and contest it alone," Jagadhish Debbarma said.

Manu seat became vacant after CPI(M) MLA Jitendra Chowdhury resigned following his victory in the Lok Sabha polls from East Tripura constituency.

The party would also contest alone for the elections of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomus District Council (TTAADC) to be held next year, he said.
INPT has no presence in the Assembly or in the TTAADC.