Agartala: Tripura’s main opposition TIPRA Motha has suspended a party leader for backing the ruling BJP in the two upcoming Assembly by-polls in the state.
Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma announced in a video statement that Abu Khayer Miah, who lost the Assembly election from Boxanagar seat in February as a TIPRA nominee, has been suspended from the party for six months.
TIPRA has not put up any candidates for the Assembly by-polls to Boxanagar and Dhanpur constituencies in Sepahijala district slated for September 5.
Miah has issued an appeal to the voters to cast their choice in favour of the ruling party in both seats. He specifically threw his weight behind the BJP candidate from Boxanagar Tofajjal Hussein.
“The BJP governs the whole country, it is in power here in the state, and if BJP candidates win elections from both constituencies, we will get more importance. The appeal is for the welfare of the whole Muslim community of the state, as Muslims are dominating both seats. Muslims need mainstream development, good education, and the best infrastructure. I appeal to all voters to vote for the BJP candidates,” Miah told the media.
The TIPRA’s non-tribal wing TIPRA Citizenship Federation (TCF) on Sunday took exception to Miah’s statement of a local party leader who sought votes for the ruling BJP in two by-elections in Tripura’s Sepahijala district slated for September 5.
TCF Chairman and former MLA Tapas De said the party has initiated disciplinary proceedings against him.
“As soon as the video of him appealing to people to vote for the BJP reached us, the TCF raised the demand for stringent punitive measures against him”, Debbarma added.
However, Miah later claimed that he made the appeal in his personal capacity and it had nothing to do with TIPRA’s political stand since the party has not entered the political contest and maintained a neutral position so far.
But TCF General Secretary Arup Deb said that the party opposes the views expressed by Miah and finds his statements against the party’s discipline.
Although there is a claim by the opposition CPI-M that Congress and TIPRA Motha have extended support to its nominees in the Dhanpur and Boxanagar by-polls, Debbarma said Motha would spell out its stand only on August 22.
