Agartala, March 24 The ruling BJP in Tripura announced its candidates for all 28 seats of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on Tuesday, which will go to polls on April 12.
The BJP's announcement of candidates for the crucial tribal council elections came a day after Tipra Motha Party supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said he would not join hands with any party without a guarantee over the implementation of the Tiprasa Accord.
The TTAADC administers nearly 70 per cent of the area of the Northeastern state.
"We have decided to field candidates in all 28 seats. Seven sitting members were re-nominated, while new candidates were fielded in Machamara and Manu-Chailengta," state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee said.
Tipra Motha leaders Ananta Debbarma and Rajesh Debbarma, who switched over to the BJP, were given tickets.
Bhattacharjee said the BJP had contacted its ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), even after the party "unilaterally" announced candidates for nine seats, but a seat adjustment could not be finalised.
He said several rounds of talks were also held with the Tipra Motha Party, but as a seat-sharing arrangement did not materialise, the BJP decided to contest the tribal council election alone.
On a post-poll alliance, Chief Minister Manik Saha said, "It is very difficult to say because who knows the future."
The Tipra Motha Party and the IPFT are part of the BJP-led government in the state. However, the BJP is in the opposition in the tribal council, which is administered by the Tipra Motha Party.
The CM said development will be the main poll plank for the BJP as the party has done a lot of work for the indigenous people of the state.
The last date for filing nominations is March 25, while the votes will be counted on April 17.
In the last election, the Tipra Motha Party had bagged 18 seats, while the BJP secured nine by contesting 12 seats. Two members of the council are nominated by the governor.
