Tripura BJP holds strategy meeting ahead of civic polls, plans seven campaigns

Agartala, Oct 27: The BJP's Tripura unit on Tuesday held a marathon meeting of senior leaders to review preparations for the upcoming urban local body elections and chalk out a roadmap for implementing seven political programmes and campaigns across the state.

The meeting, held at the state guest house, was attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, former chief minister and West Tripura MP Biplab Kumar Deb, cabinet ministers, MLAs, leaders of the party's frontal organisations and other senior functionaries.

BJP national general secretary (organisation) for Assam and Tripura Rabindra Raju and the party's newly appointed central observer for Tripura, Mriganka Deo Barman, also participated in the meeting.

Speaking to reporters, Saha said the discussions primarily focused on preparations for the civic polls and the implementation of programmes initiated by the Centre.

Deb said the meeting would deliberate on the party's electoral strategy and the phased implementation of seven political programmes aimed at strengthening its organisational presence and expanding its outreach in Tripura.

Alleging that certain political forces were attempting to weaken democratic institutions, he said the BJP had planned a series of campaigns to counter such efforts.

The proposed programmes would include foot marches, interactions with young voters and press conferences in different parts of the state, he said, without disclosing the detailed schedule.

BJP Tripura Pradesh president Abhishek Debroy expressed confidence that the party would win all municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the forthcoming elections.

He said preparations were underway and the candidate list would be announced shortly, though he did not specify a date.

Debroy attributed the party's confidence to development initiatives undertaken by the state government under Saha's leadership. He cited infrastructure projects and development work in Agartala, Udaipur and Dharmanagar, besides proposed projects in Khowai. He also acknowledged that some development works were yet to be completed.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Debroy described the exercise as a constitutional process and accused the Congress and the CPI(M) of misleading people over the issue.

He said the BJP would explain its position to voters and alleged that opposition parties were joining hands to regain political power.

Asked whether factional differences within the party could affect its electoral prospects, Debroy said the BJP functioned according to organisational discipline and that members were expected to abide by collective decisions.

He also expressed confidence in the state leadership and said the party would continue to receive support from its central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The meeting is expected to shape the BJP's organisational preparations and political outreach ahead of the urban local body elections.