A group of BJP leaders from Tripura, led by party state President Rajib Bhattacharjee, met several Central leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to discuss party-related matters.
The 10-member delegation held a series of meetings with the Central leadership in New Delhi to discuss the strategies to strengthen the saffron party’s base among the tribals, sources said. They called on Shah and are scheduled to meet other BJP ministers and leaders on Wednesday and Thursday, they added.
During their meeting with the Union home minister, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP’s Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, among others were also present.
Tripura Industry and Commerce Minister and prominent tribal leader of the party, Santana Chakma, said in a meeting with Amit Shah that the state’s tribal development, as well as the overall development, was discussed.
Tripura BJP general secretary Bipin Debbarma said during the meeting with the Union home minister, discussions were held on how to further strengthen the party base among the tribals, who constitute one-third of Tripura’s over four million population.
Tripura’s Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, former Lok Sabha member Rebati Tripura, MLA Rama Pada Jamatia — all tribal leaders — were also in the party delegation.
A six-member delegation of the BJP’s tribal leaders held a meeting with the party’s National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santhosh in the national capital last week and discussed organisational matters involving tribals.
A BJP leader had said in Agartala that the tribal leaders led by Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma discussed the ensuing election to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), polling for which is due early next year.
The 30-member politically-important TTAADC has been governed by the BJP’s ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP).
The ruling BJP has been trying to strengthen its organisational base in the TTAADC, which has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area, and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals.
Tribals play a vital role in electoral politics in Tripura.