Upset Pradyot rules out tie-up with BJP for Tripura poll

Agartala: A couple of hours after Tripura People’s Front chief Patal Kanya Jamatia joined BJP on Sunday, the ruling Tipra Motha of royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) sealed the option of any understanding or electoral alliance with BJP in the upcoming assembly poll.Pradyot reacted sharply on the comment of Patal Kanya Jamatia and other BJP leaders in the joining rally that “some small parties” are misguiding the tribals with the dream of Greater Tipraland, which will never happen, rather it will affect the development of tribals saying, “Yes, we are small but not corrupt.”“We accept BJP’s challenge. We will fight the upcoming assembly election alone and the question of alliance at least with BJP doesn’t arise anymore,” Pradyot said in a video message, adding that there would be no compromise with the demand of Greater Tipraland.He said the new BJP leader has made a statement that regional parties are small; Tipra Motha is small and would not be able to survive for long and the constitutional demand for Greater Tipraland would never happen.“So, I guess this is the official position of BJP. They have a much bigger and stronger organization and of course the richest party in the country. We are a small regional party. If BJP is such a big party in Tripura, I think, they should prepare to fight in all 60 assembly constituencies. We will fight in 30-35 seats ourselves. Tipra Motha will answer them on the ground,” Pradyot said.Meanwhile, reacting sharply to the statement of Patal Kanya on the Tipraland issue, BJP’s alliance partner IPFT said, “Now it’s proved she (Patal) played with the sentiments of indigenous people of the state for her personal gain.” s