BJP's Tripura ally threatens to pull out

AGARTALA: Ties between ruling partners BJP and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) seem to be on a shaky ground. After two days of clashes between supporters of the two parties, the IPFT on Wednesday said it might reconsider its support to the state government. In the same breath, the party threatened to relaunch the movement for a separate state for tribals.
"We will take up the issue with BJP's central leadership because the state leadership does not keep its words.Unless there is a change of attitude and plan of action (of the BJP), we will definitely reconsider our support to the state government," IPFT spokesperson Mangal Debbarma said.
According to informed sources, the IPFT is strongly against the BJP fielding its candidates from reserved seats - a position that is at the root of the violent clashes between the supporters of both the parties. The BJP and the IPFT are not contesting the panchayat bypolls as allies.
On Wednesday, the IPFT also joined the CPM and the Congress in demanding that panchayat byelections be rescheduled.