In order to ensure an all-out fight against BJP by all opposition parties in the coming Lok Sabha elections, the opposition Tipra-Motha leaders held discussion with Congress leaders on Friday.

Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha accompanied by party MLA and AICC leader Sudip Roy Barman on Friday went to the official chamber of leader of the opposition , Animesh Debbarma at Assembly complex and held discussions with Tripra-Motha’s supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.

After an hour-long meeting, speaking with media persons Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman said they have discussed with TIPRA Motha leaders and on Thursday  had a round of talks with the CPI(M) state secretary and MLA Jitendra Chaudhury. “We have said that we have to work in the next elections to honour the people’s desire to defeat the BJP. We have to work proactively to ensure anti-BJP votes are not divided.  We have also discussed how BJP has deprived the indigenous people of the by betraying their commitments.  We will move to New Delhi on Saturday and will join the screening committee meeting of the AICC to highlight the discussions with CPI(M) and Motha leaders,” said Sudip.

Over the question of the meeting of Motha leaders with central, Sudip said that Motha are discussing with central government to ensure their legitimate rights and these are not political discussions. “Today we have discussed on the political front  and considering the outcome of the last assembly election results, we should respect the demand of the state as well as the aspiration of the country's people to ensure the defeat of ‘fascist’ BJP in the LS polls,” said Sudip.

He also said that Congress understands the suffering of indigenous people and the Congress government has ensured their rights through 6th schedule and raised the number of ST reserved seats from 17 to 20 in Tripura assembly. He hoped that Motha leaders will consider and take appropriate steps to ensure the defeat of BJP. The CPI(M) and the Congress are part of the nationwide INDIA bloc of parties united to fight the BJP. However, details of which party will contest which of the two Lok Sabha seats in Tripura have not been discussed yet, said Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha and added that whatever the AICC’s decision for two seats of Tripura, they will implement it at ground level.

Later, speaking with media persons, opposition leader Animesh Debbarma said that the meeting was held for possible alliance before Lok Sabha elections and they will discuss with all central committee leaders of the party over the proposal of Congress.

Animesh added that Congress knows their problems and admitted the contribution of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for socio-economic upliftment of indigenous people of the state.

He said that Tipra-Motha will share their decisions after their party meeting and added that their meeting with the centre is not political.

While, reports said that after meeting with Congress leaders, the central committee of Motha led by its president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhwal along with all party MLAs and MDCs held meeting at Raj Bari in presence of Pradyot Kishore, opposition  leader Animesh Debbarma and other top leaders of Motha. The outcome of the meeting is yet to be disclosed by Motha leaders.