AGARTALA, March 24 -- A day after its ally, the Tripra Motha Party (TPC), announced it would contest the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections alone, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its list of candidates for all 28 seats and inducted five TPC rebels into the party.

"We have decided to field candidates in all 28 seats. Seven sitting members were re-nominated, while new candidates were fielded in Machamara and Manu-Chailengta," state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee said at a joint press conference on Tuesday, effectively entering a head-to-head battle with its partner for the state's tribal votes.

The BJP also welcomed five TPC leaders including an executive member of the outgoi...