AGARTALA: Living up to its condition of pre-poll alliance, Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), has decided to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Following the decision, two of its legislators from the main opposition in Tripura – Animesh Debbarma, and Brishaketu Debbarma – switched sides to the Manik Saha-led BJP-IPFT government and were sworn in as cabinet ministers on Thursday.
Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu administered the oath of office and secrecy to the incumbent Leader of Opposition Animesh and senior TIPRA leader Brishaketu.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of TIPRA Motha’s recent signing of a tripartite agreement in New Delhi with the Centre and the Tripura government, aimed at amicably resolving indigenous issues.
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Reports in the press indicated that after the abrupt induction of TIPRA Motha into the state cabinet, the regional party would now support the BJP in both the state’s parliamentary constituencies of East and West Tripura.
With three berths in Chief Minister Manik Saha’s cabinet vacant since last year, the induction of two ministers from TIPRA Motha leaves one seat unoccupied. Presently, the 12-member cabinet comprises nine ministers, including the Chief Minister.
The move, however, shouldn’t come as a surprise for political observers as TIPRA founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, in January, had declared that his party would support whichever party rallies with them for the cause of the indigenous population of the state.
“We will ally with any political party that gives us a written assurance to support our demand for Greater Tipraland,” Pradyot had told a national daily in an interview in January.
Asserting the non-negotiable demand for Greater Tipraland, Pradyot had said that the region, which includes the territory under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTADC) and 36 villages within the state boundaries, should be carved out as a separate state or union territory.
Currently, he pointed out, the TTADC receives only 2% of the state budget despite representing 40% of the state’s population.
