Agartala, March 12: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura on Thursday held a crucial core committee meeting at the party’s state headquarters in Agartala to deliberate on key political developments, including the upcoming by-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency and preparations for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, state BJP president and MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, party’s state in-charge and former Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, former Union minister Pratima Bhowmik, former MP Rebati Tripura, ministers Ratan Lal Nath and Pranajit Singha Roy, MLA Bhagavan Das and other senior party leaders.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Saha said the core committee held detailed discussions on the political strategy for the Dharmanagar by-election, which has become necessary following the demise of the Assembly Speaker, leaving the seat vacant.
“The core committee discussed what kind of candidate would be appropriate and how the party should approach the election once the Election Commission announces the schedule,” Saha said.
He added that the party leadership will prepare a list of prospective candidates for the by-poll, which will be forwarded to the BJP’s election committee for the final decision.
The meeting also focused on preparations for the upcoming TTAADC elections, which are expected to be held in a little over a month. According to Saha, the party discussed ways to strengthen its organisational structure and consolidate support ahead of the crucial council polls.
On the issue of alliance partners, the Chief Minister reiterated that the BJP continues to maintain its alliance with the TIPRA Motha Party and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). However, he refrained from confirming whether the parties would contest the ADC elections jointly.
Saha also dismissed speculation that leaders from TIPRA Motha may soon join the BJP, describing such reports as mere rumours.
