AGARTALA, April 8 (TIWN): Ahead of Lok Sabha Election, IPFT has received a major jolt on Monday as its Vice President Mangal Debbarma along with thousands of supporters have joined Congress. The joining programme was held in the presence of Tripura State Congress President Pradyot Manikya at the Royal Palace in Agartala. The landslide in IPFT started with a disruption between the party leaders over its alliance’s continuation with the BJP amid Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) threat and Forest Rights related issue which has heated up national media headlines exposing fears about de-sheltering indigenous people from the forest. Pradyot Manikya has appreciated the Tiprasa leaders who joined Congress today to fight for Tiprasa people’s right. The Vice President of IPFT who has been the core of the party and a visionary leader has quitted IPFT alleging “unavailable circumstances” happening in the party. In an official letter, the IPFT leader has submitted his resignation from the party and from the post as Vice President. The breakup inside IPFT started after few women top leaders had resigned the party and joined Congress followed by around thousands of supporters have officially joined Congress leaving IPFT. Many minority leaders, supporters have also joined Congress today along with the IPFT leaders and supporters.

BJP-IPFT Govt under Home Ministry of Biplab Deb also indulged in a brutal move against Tiprasa people at Madhab Bari in Jirania on January 8, 2019 when they were agitating against Citizenship Amendment Bill. At least 6 youths were injured in police’s illegal firing followed by attack in ambulance by TSR and Police machinery.

Rejecting all pleas, BJP-IPFT Govt ordered Magisterial investigation instead of Judicial investigation and thus ‘No Justice’ was received. Also footages had shown that few BJP flag-bearing people on that day burnt public properties but police could not identify and take action against them.

Then there was a great debate on seat-sharing of the MP election with BJP but BJP announced its own candidate and thus IPFT was bound to announce own.

At the same time, Chief Minister Biplab Deb continued his insulting remarks against IPFT leaders and he called them “goats” also, but observing IPFT’s two Ministers no interest to protest against BJP’s undemocratic moves, an internal clash has hit the IPFT party. IPFT Vice President’s resignation is another outcome of such clash.

There will be more challenged to be faced by the Biplab Deb and NC Debbarma led Govt after 2019 Lok Sabha Election and Congress has assured to form a Govt in Tripura immediately after Lok Sabha Election.