Statehood demands queer BJP’s poll campaign in Nagaland &Tripura

GUWAHATI: After winning Assam and Manipur for a second successive time, BJP is facing the daunting task of pacifying the cries for the creation of separate states in Nagaland and Tripura, which go to the polls next month.
The challenge is big because the demands concern one-third of the seats in both the states that are crucial for BJP to retain power there. The two states have a 60-member house each.
Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman, who is leading the demand for a separate Greater Tipraland for the natives of the state through his party TIPRA Motha, has emerged as BJP’s most sought-after leader in the state.
Debbarman, who had met Assam CM and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma last week in New Delhi over alliance, has made it clear that his party will go with the party which gives a written assurance of creating a separate state. In case of BJP, he said the written assurance has to come from the Centre.
On Wednesday, he wrote in a Facebook post, “Contrary to rumours there has been NO talks of seat sharing as reported with any party! We have received intimation from ministry of home affairs that they would like to talk to us on our demand for a constitutional solution to our demand of Greater Tipraland.
We have repeatedly said UNTIL we don't get a written assurances from GOI on the constitutional solution of our demand we will not go in for any alliance leave alone seat sharing. Please don't jump the gun and relax - we know how to negotiate for our people to the maximum.”
Elsewhere in Nagaland, six eastern districts of Nagaland — Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator, which are home to the state’s seven tribes and have 20 assembly constituencies, want a separate Frontier Nagaland state.
Under the umbrella of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO), the seven tribal bodies — Chang Khulei Setshang, Khiamniungan Tribal Council, Konyak Union, Phom People’s Council (PPC), United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) and Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), have decided not to participate in any election process of the state or the Centre until the ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state is created.