Guwahati: Ahead of the Tripura assembly elections, the IPFT, the BJP’s primary coalition partner in Tripura has replied to the TIPRA party’s proposal for a merger.
This action was taken in response to the TIPRA party head Pradyot Debbarma’s request for the IPFT and his party to “unify.”
IPFT president Prem Kumar Reang, in a letter to TIPRA chairman Pradyot Debbarma said: “Express my sincere gratitude for the proposal to unite IPFT and TIPRA in any form for solving the question of survival and existence of Tiprasa (tribal) with an endeavour of achieving our demand of Tipraland or Greater Tipraland.”
Reang, in the letter also stated, “I welcomed the opportunity to meet with you personally to discuss a broad range of issues of common interest of both the parties. Please, fix the date, time, and venue as per your convenience and availability.”
An earlier call for a merger of his party with the IPFT came from Pradyot Debbarma, the chairman of the TIPRA party in Tripura.
Tripura royal scion Pradyot Debbarma claimed that a merger between TIPRA and IPFT is feasible because both organisations have comparable goals.
“We (TIPRA and IPFT) have similar demands, thus we should fight the upcoming Tripura assembly elections under one symbol,” said Pradyot Debbarma.
Notably, Pradyot Debbarma made the suggestion that TIPRA and IPFT merge just a few days after the demise of NC Debbarma, the head of IPFT and a minister for Tripura.
“Unification of the two parties will make our voice louder and people listen it,” said Tripura royal scion and TIPRA chief Pradyot Debbarma.
Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the date for the assembly elections in Tripura on Wednesday (January 18).
Tripura’s assembly elections will take place on February 16 in a single phase.
On the other hand, the vote tallying process will start on March 2.