Tripura royal scion and The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) chairman Pradyot Manikya Debbarma on March 30 accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura for resorting falsehood against him to misguide the voters in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) election.
Voting for the ADC election will be held on April 6.
Debbarma, with his strong base with the tribal people, has emerged as a strong force in the ADC elections. His TIPRA, a united platform of major tribal-based parties of Tripura and supported by a large number of NGOs, is fighting for 24 seats in the 28 member-council. TIPRA is supporting INPT in the remaining four seats.
Talking to the media, Pradyot Manikya Debbarma criticised Tripura deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma for his recent statement that TIPRA has some understanding with CPI-M. He said: “Such comment from a responsible politician is unexpected because people of Tripura know the whole genesis of the communist movement in the state was against my family and how can they think that I go with CPI-M. They are making such elusive comment out of frustration.”
“My agenda neither has any link with right-wing or left-wing parties. I am at the centre with a completely different mindset. I don’t believe in communal politics. I want to serve the people of Tripura whatever be his identity,” he added.
“Is it wrong to have a political party that is not with BJP or CPI-M?” Pradyot questioned. He claimed that as BJP has lost all hope of winning, their leaders are trying to confuse the voters.
He said that TIPRA is dedicated to the cause of greater autonomy to ADC in all senses and also, the party is committed to convert all primary schools in ADC to compulsory English medium, ensure electrification to all, the households, purified and sufficient supply of water, pucca houses and good road connectivity to all the habitations through the schemes of central and state government.
“For getting direct funds from the centre and development of ADC, I shall talk to prime minister directly because they know me and my mission for the development of Tripura and its people. I do not need anybody’s emissary to get in touch with the central government or prime minister,” Pradyot added.
