Tipra Motha 'kingmaker' that BJP doesn't need, Congress can't have

Earlier today, as the counting began in Tripura Assembly elections, Congress leaders arrived in the state to test the water and see if they can strike a deal with Tipra Motha. Given the initial trends, Congress took Pradyot, the last Maharaja of Tripura, as a kingmaker to turn the tide in their favour. They were proven wrong as the clock hit 1.

Hyderabad:With BJP crossing the halfway mark in Tripura as per the trends in the counting for the Assembly polls, Congress's attempt to strike a deal with the new entrant Tipra Motha is now crossed off. As per the latest trends, BJP has crossed the halfway mark in the 60-seat Tripura Assembly leading in 32 seats followed by CPI (M)-led left in 16. Pradyot Manikya Debbarma's Tipra Motha, which analysts thought would play kingmaker in case of a hung assembly, is leading in 10 seats.

Earlier in the day, as the counting began, Congress leaders arrived in Tripura to test the waters and see if they can strike a deal with Tipra Motha. Given the initial trends, Congress took Pradyot, the last Maharaja of Tripura, formerly a journalist and Congressman, as a kingmaker to turn the tide in their favour.

The bubble was pricked by 1 pm as BJP raced ahead and crossed the halfway mark ensuring in the process that Tipra, for now, sits in the opposition. Had Tipra proven as impactful as Pradyot said in his speeches, it would have been difficult for the BJP to form the government in the state since the former had clearly said no to allying with the saffron party.

Congress, in that case, was a more natural ally to Tipra. In the matter of those few hours in the morning today, Congress attempted to reach a coalition agreement with Tipra, but hasty climbers had not taken into account the sudden falls they are prone to. Pradyot happens to be close friends with Jitendra Singh of Congress.

According to highly placed sources, Congress leaders were in Tripura, and were planning to meet Pradyot. Jitendra was accompanied by another senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik. Sources further said that Wasnik and Jitendra Singh were planning to meet Pradyut at a resort in Tripura.

Pradyut, who knew Rahul Gandhi well, would have liked to stitch an alliance with the grand old party. There were slim chances of bargaining between the BJP and Tipra Motha because the former had already rejected the latter’s demand for Greater 'Tipra' land, which became the primary poll plank of the party.