Agartala, October 1: The BJP has begun stepping up its organisational activities in Tripura ahead of elections to 21 urban local bodies, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation, with state president Abhishek Debroy saying the civic polls could be held within the next two months.
Debroy, who is also an MLA, said the party has set up committees at different levels and initiated consultations with its leaders and representatives to prepare for the elections.
A meeting attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, ministers, MLAs, district and mandal presidents and chairpersons of urban local bodies took stock of the party’s organisational preparedness and discussed its approach for the forthcoming polls.
“An election is going to be held in the next one-and-a-half to two months. We discussed with everyone how we will move forward and what our policy will be,” Debroy said after the meeting.
The BJP state president was asked about the possibility of seat-sharing with alliance partners TIPRA Motha and IPFT.
He said the state unit would await the decision of the party’s central leadership on any electoral arrangement.
Debroy said TIPRA Motha and IPFT had a stronger presence in tribal-dominated areas, while the BJP had an organisational presence across the urban local bodies.
“We are a national party. Whatever Delhi decides, we have to obey that,” he said.
The state president said the BJP’s core committee, state organisational leadership and central leaders would discuss the matter before a final direction is given to the state unit.
On the issues likely to be highlighted during the campaign, Debroy said development would be the BJP’s main focus.
“Our agenda will be development,” he said, urging voters to evaluate the changes in urban areas under the BJP-led government.
Earlier, Saha said the meeting reviewed election preparations, including reservation-related issues and organisational mobilisation.
He asked party leaders and workers to maintain focus and ensure that preparations continued without any complacency.
“Everyone has to take the matter seriously. There should not be any lethargy anywhere,” Saha said.
The chief minister said the party would seek another mandate on the basis of development work carried out in urban areas.
Agartala Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, along with other senior BJP leaders, attended the meeting.
The BJP has now initiated mobilisation across all 21 ULBs as it prepares for the upcoming civic elections.
Any seat-sharing or electoral arrangement with TIPRA Motha and IPFT will be decided by the BJP’s central leadership, Debroy said.
