In Tripura, the TIPRA Motha party today joined the BJP-led Government in the state with two MLAs of the party inducted into the Tripura cabinet, their oath of office administered by Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu.
TIPRA Motha is the second regional party after the IPFT and third one to have formed an alliance with the BJP. In the assembly election held last year, Tipra Motha had won 13 seats, second highest after the BJP.
The two MLAs who were sworn-in as the Ministers are Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma. Until his induction into the Government, Animesh Debbarma was the leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly.
Before his swearing-in, Animesh Debbarma earlier this morning resigned from the post of leader of the opposition and handed over his resignation letter to Speaker Biswasbandhu Sen.
The development comes days after a tripartite agreement was signed in New Delhi between the Tipra Motha, the Tripura government and the Centre.
The tripartite agreement signed on March 2 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah agreed to amicably resolve all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura related to history, land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture and language, according to an official statement.
With the new inductions, the state now has 11 ministers, including Chief Minister Manik Saha. According to the rules, the state can have 12 ministers including the CM.
‘Will not give up Greater Tipraland demand’
Following the ceremony, Animesh reiterated his dedication to addressing the concerns of the general populace in Tripura and underscored the party’s unwavering demand for a separate ‘Greater Tipraland’ state by carving out areas falling under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
After the swearing-in ceremony, senior leader Animesh Debbarma said his party would move towards their “target” and that there would not be any shift from their demand. “We will work towards achieving our goal,” Debbarma said.
When asked whether they would be able to launch a movement for their demand even after joining the government, he said, “Of course, we will be able to launch such a movement. There are instances of central ministers getting arrested while participating in movements. We will go ahead with our demands even in the government.” The party chief, Pradyot Debbarma said, “Those who have become ministers cannot change the style of working.
They must raise their demands even in the cabinet. Whatever happens outside will also happen inside. We will also speak in Delhi about our demands.”
‘Betrayal to tribals of Tripura’
Hours after two TIPRA Motha MLAs took oath as ministers in the Tripura cabinet, tribal wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), criticised Motha and said the move to join hands with the ruling dispensation is a betrayal to the tribals.
GMP added that Motha used tribal sentiments to gain political mileage.
Speaking at the CPI(M) headquarters in Agartala, former minister and GMP leader Naresh Chandra Jamatia said, “It seems that by joining hands with the BJP-led state government, the TIPRA Motha is endorsing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) introduced by the saffron party.”
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that CAA would be implemented across the country ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
Jamatia further said TIPRA Motha, in the initial period, organised rallies for their party’s core demand of creation of Greater Tipraland or for a Constitutional solution to the problems faced by the tribal population in the state.
“But the tripartite agreement signed between the Centre, state government and TIPRA Motha didn’t have anything about any demand or any time frame for chalking out solutions,” Jamatia said.
Later, a former chief executive member of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and senior GMP leader said that the TIPRA Motha joining the government is the “initiation of the party’s downfall”.
The leaders said Motha’s core principles have been compromised after it joined hands with the BJP government.
As per the tripartite accord, a Joint Working Group or Committee formed with representatives from all three sides is expected to work out and implement the mutually agreed points to ensure an “honourable solution”.
Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma explained that he decided to join the government to get benefits for tribals since he feels the BJP will return to power and can grant tribals of Tripura their rights.
However, he said that if the government doesn’t deliver, the TIPRA Motha ministers would not sit back silently and if needed, they would resign and return to their party fold to stand with the people.
MTNEws Desk
(With inputs from PTI)