In a major development ahead of the parliamentary elections, INPT (Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra), ending all speculations of alliance with the Congress, today declared to contest independently in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
The move taken by INPT on the heels of signing an MOU with the Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi under the banner of MACAB (Movement against Citizenship Amendment Bill) is also considered to be a major jolt to the unified platform of tribal outfits—MACAB.
Speaking to the media persons today at the INPT head quarters, party president Bijoy Kumar Hranghkhwal said, as per the recommendations of election committee of INPT, the party has decided to go independently. The party has unanimously decided that party president Bijoy Kumar Hranghkhwal would contest the election from East Tripura constituency and Jagadish Debbarma from the West, he added.
He said, after a number of crucial meetings with the Congress no significant development took place. The PCC president has asked the INPT supremo to contest from the East Lok Sabha constituency but not under the banner of INPT but as an independent candidate. Such proposals are against the ideology of this grand old party and so we have decided to go solo, added he.
However, in a separate press conference, the MACAB of which the INPT is also a constituent part has claimed to give all round support to the Congress. Speaking to the media persons at Agartala Press Club, MACAB leader Animesh Debbarma said, the MACAB delegation had a meeting with the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. In the meeting, the MACAB delegation where INPT chief Bijoy Kumar Hranghkwal and Assistant General Secretary of the party were also present, the Congress chief had convinced that all the demands of the tribal parties—inclusion of Kokborok in the 8th schedule of the constitution, direct funding to ADCs and all round development of the indigenous people of the state; would be fulfilled if the party assumes power in the center, Animesh added.
He also further said, INPT supremo also had a separate sitting with top-brass congress leaders but how come he decided the next step of going solo is still ambiguous to us.
While asked whether the MACAB is facing a crisis as the participants are stepping back, he said, MACAB is a joint platform and if any of its member steps back, the platform is not going to break. He however also clarified that talks are still on in different levels to take on the BJP unitedly.
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