BJP Minister Ratan Lal Nath says the party will support Tipra Motha in select seats against CPI(M) and Congress, aiming to prevent opposition gains and strengthen the ruling alliance ahead of upcoming elections in Tripura.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has announced that the party will extend support to Tipra Motha in constituencies where the regional party is directly contesting against the CPI(M) or Congress in the upcoming elections in Tripura.
Nath said the decision forms part of a broader electoral strategy aimed at preventing the opposition parties from regaining political ground in the state. According to him, BJP supporters will be encouraged to vote for Tipra Motha candidates in constituencies where Tipra Motha is engaged in a direct electoral contest with either the CPI(M) or Congress.
At the same time, Nath said Tipra Motha has advised its supporters not to support the CPI(M) or Congress in constituencies where the BJP is directly competing against those parties. The understanding, he indicated, is intended to help prevent opposition candidates from benefiting from divided votes in select constituencies.
However, Nath acknowledged that the final outcome of any election would depend on voters. He claimed that both the CPI(M) and Congress have experienced a decline in their organisational strength in Tripura and argued that they are currently not in a position to secure major electoral victories.
Referring to the recent Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, Nath pointed out that opposition parties failed to win a single seat. He cited the result as an indication of what he described as weakening grassroots support for the opposition in the state.
Nath also rejected allegations that opposition parties face an unfair electoral environment. He argued that electoral success depends on public support, organisational strength and a committed cadre base. Recalling his own political experience, he said he had won panchayat elections during the CPI(M)-led government in Tripura and maintained that strong public backing could overcome administrative challenges.
The BJP leader further claimed that opposition parties have limited appeal among younger voters and continue to depend largely on older and traditional support bases. He said Tripura’s electorate has experienced different governments over the years and would assess the performance of the BJP-led NDA government before making its electoral choice.
At the same time, Nath acknowledged that voters could remove the BJP, Tipra Motha or IPFT from power if these parties fail to meet public expectations. He stressed that electoral mandates ultimately rest with the people.
Nath’s remarks come amid preparations for upcoming electoral contests in Tripura, where the BJP, Tipra Motha, CPI(M), Congress and other political forces are expected to compete across different constituencies. His statement indicates a possible seat-specific understanding between the BJP and Tipra Motha aimed at avoiding direct vote division in contests involving the opposition.
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The proposed arrangement could become significant in constituencies where the electoral battle is closely divided among the major political parties. However, the eventual impact of such support will depend on voter preferences, candidate strength and local political dynamics in individual constituencies.
