In a very surprising move, the BJP in Tripura has requested the main opposition Congress to form an electoral alliance to defeat the ruling Left Front in the upcoming civic polls.

According to IANS, the opposition parties' combined vote would be able to defeat the candidates of the Left parties, feels the BJP.

"The Congress either can form an alliance with the BJP or support the nominees of the BJP. The BJP was gaining popularity in the state after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came to power last year," said BJP Tripura unit president Sudhindra Dasgupta to IANS in Agartala.

"Results of the Lok Sabha, gram panchayat and tribal autonomous district council polls have shown that the BJP's vote share has increased substantially, eating into Congress's support base. But, because of the division of votes among the BJP, the Congress and other non-Left parties, the CPI-M won the election," Dasgupta claimed.

Dasgupta claimed his party has fielded promising, educated and dedicated youngsters for the civic bodies' polls.

The BJP has put up a record number of 28 women candidates in the Agartala Municipal Corporation, 13 municipal councils and six nagar panchayats, reports IANS.