Tripura tribal party receives serious setback

Agartala, Nov 19 (UNI) Tribal-based Opposition Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura(INPT) received a serious blow on the eve of the 9th Assembly Elections, when CPI(M) polit bureau member and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar alleged that the INPT was the ''mask of militants''.

Addressing a public rally, jointly organised by Gana Mukti Parisad (GMP), Tribal Front of CPI(M) and its youth wing TYF and student wing TSU here yesterday, Mr Sarkar alleged that the INPT could do nothing without help from underground outfits and their rapport with militants had already been established.

Mr Sarkar claimed that the INPT was the ''think-tank of outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura(NLFT)'' and that there had been a move towards massive surrender by militants, which was, however, stalled due to intervention by a section of the political leaders.

Meanwhile, the Congress tribal wing had also opposed forging alliance with INPT in the upcoming elections. They met AICC leaders in Delhi last week and tried to convince the Central leadership in this regard.

Congress ST Cell leader Jadu Mohan, Tripura, made it clear that the support base of the anti-left vote bank would be reduced remarkably in the tribal-dominated areas if the Congress forged alliance with INPT in the elections.

UNI