What Kind of Friendship Is This?’ Tipra Motha Hits Out at BJP Over Seat-Sharing

CHARILAM, November 4: Differences over seat-sharing between the BJP and its alliance partner Tipra Motha have come out in the open ahead of the Bishramganj Nagar Panchayat elections. Tipra Motha leaders have expressed strong resentment after the BJP announced candidates for 10 of the 11 wards, leaving just one seat for its ally. Raising the question, “What kind of friendship is this?”, Charilam MLA Subodh Debbarma, MDC Buddhakumar Debbarma and Tipra Motha leader and advocate Zakir Hossain accused the BJP of failing to honour the spirit of the alliance. They voiced their displeasure while speaking to the media on Wednesday, ahead of filing nominations for eight seats.

The Tipra Motha leaders maintained that friendship cannot be established merely through words; it must also be reflected in actions. They argued that a 5:5 or 6:5 seat-sharing arrangement in the 11-member Nagar Panchayat would have demonstrated mutual respect and maintained cordial relations between the alliance partners. However, the BJP's decision to field candidates in 10 wards while leaving only one seat for Tipra Motha was described as an insult to the alliance. The leaders made it clear that such an arrangement was unacceptable to their party.

Amid the growing differences, Tipra Motha leaders, accompanied by their eight candidates, proposers and supporters, proceeded from the party office near Bishramganj Mini Stadium on Wednesday afternoon to submit nomination papers before the Returning Officer at Bishalgarh. By deciding to contest eight of the 11 wards, Tipra Motha has effectively signalled its willingness to challenge the BJP in the local body elections. The party leaders claimed that Tipra Motha enjoys a strong organisational presence in the Bishramganj area and expressed confidence that it would capture the Nagar Panchayat with a substantial margin.

Meanwhile, Ward No. 8 of the Bishramganj Nagar Panchayat has emerged as one of the key constituencies to watch. The ward has a total of 828 voters. The BJP has fielded Ratan Das, vice-president of the Charilam Mandal and a prominent businessman from Bishramganj market. He will face Tipra Motha candidate Bappi Das. Tipra Motha leaders anticipate a keen contest in this politically significant ward.

Following the filing of nominations, Tipra Motha leaders reiterated their confidence in securing control of the Bishramganj Nagar Panchayat. However, the public disagreement over seat-sharing has raised questions about the understanding between the two alliance partners. Whether this resentment will translate into a direct electoral confrontation and how it will reshape the local political equations will become clearer as the election process unfolds.