BJP’s ally in Tripura government TIPRA Motha expresses annoyance with centre and state

AGARTALA: The newly found partner of the ruling BJP in Tripura, the royal scion’s party TIPRA Motha, on Friday expressed displeasure with the government, alleging that their ministers in the cabinet didn’t get due importance. The party further said that the tripartite agreement signed with Motha before the Lok Sabha elections has not been honored by the Centre.

TIPRA Motha President Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl alleged, “We are very much upset with the government at the Centre and the state. So, we are thinking differently. This government neither respects the Constitution nor the direction of the courts. The High Court directed the state to hold Village Council (VC) elections in the Autonomous District Council (ADC) last year, but no action has been taken yet.”

He said TIPRA Motha, the ruling party of ADC, allied with BJP three months ago and fought together in both the seats of Tripura, which secured the victory of BJP. However, no initiative has been taken on the agreement signed among Motha, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Tripura government. He alleged, “It seems the governments are flouting the commitments based on which they got our support and won the elections.”

Hrangkhawl, along with a team from TIPRA Motha, on Thursday called on State Election Commissioner Saradindu Choudhury to conduct VC elections along with the three-tier Panchayat elections scheduled for next month. Besides the election to rural local bodies, they demanded elections for 587 VCs of ADC and by-elections for two vacant council seats.

However, Choudhury assured them that after the Panchayat polls, the process of VC elections would be started and the election would be held by December this year, which couldn’t satisfy TIPRA Motha leaders who pressed for holding a simultaneous election with the Panchayat polls, he stated.

Soon after the statement by Hrangkhawl, Motha founder and ADC Executive Member Pradyot Kishore Debbarman indicated in a social media post that TIPRA Motha is likely to contest the upcoming three-tier Panchayat polls separately.

In a voice message, Pradyot said, “I want to tell my leaders and workers that we must look beyond ADC, as many Tiprasa (tribal) people are still residing outside the district council. If we want to bring them into Greater Tipraland, then we must fight for them and their rights.”

Pradyot added, “Many people and parties want to talk with us for VC elections, but for the three-tier Panchayat polls, the same people ask why a regional party has no work outside the district council. Why can’t the TIPRA Motha Party be bigger?”

“This whole state belonged to us. Due to our limited thinking, we are getting only small things. Be prepared for the Panchayat polls, identify candidates who are honest and sincere, and make them candidates. I will back them and contest the fight. If you want to do something, then play on the front foot, or else you will lose,” Pradyot pointed out.