Ruling BJP is now seriously exploring possibilities of an alliance with TIPRA Motha keeping in mind the 2023 assembly elections. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and BJP state president Dr Manik Saha will be discussing the matter with party top brass during their present visit to Delhi, highly placed sources said.
“We are determined to increase our strength in the next assembly elections , in fact, to wrest all the 60 seats. Keeping this in mind the alliance with TIPRA Motha is now being considered”, the BJP sources said. What will be the role of IPFT- which is now believed to be a spent force- will be left to them.
“We are serious about TIPRA Motha”, sources maintained.
According to sources Pradyot Kishore Debbarman who is also the chief of the TIPRA Motha indicated his inclination towards the proposed alliance, though he remained non-committal in this regard so far. The main bone of contention was the demand for ‘Greater Tipraland’.
“In fact, we shall not be surprised if after the Chief Minister and BJP president’s meeting with Delhi leaders something extraordinary and unexpected happens at individual level at TIPRA motha”, sources observed.
Pradyot Kishore had already created a hype about ‘Greater Tipraland’ which by any means not at all feasible to materialize – as the proposed areas not only included Assam, Mizoram territories, non TTAADC areas in Tripura but also some parts of Bangladesh inhabited by Tripuri people. The way age old border disputes between Assam and Mizoram culminated recently should be an eye opener for the protagonists of such a demand. Besides, it would mean eventually a ‘war’ with Bangladesh if one wanted to include their territory in something called ‘Greater Tipraland’. It – inclusion of a neighboring country’s territory -would not be at all globally accepted a step. Apart from that no Indian constitutional amendment or support would be there for it and no one in his right mind would ever dream of a war with Bangladesh, pointed out a senior BJP leader.
But Pradyot Kishore had been riding the tiger and he just could not get down of it all of a sudden.
“His predicament is well understood and, as far as we feel, he would ultimately tone down the Greater Tipraland demand for something that of a greater cultural entity instead of geo-political entity. For a cultural identity of the Tripuri people under the banner Greater Tipraland comprising people from all over the world is quite acceptable and, in a sense, a good step indeed to protect, preserve, develop and widen the Tripura people’s rich heritage and culture. This can be done with an international level convention only, he added.
One other point that will come up for discussion during Deb and Dr Saha’s discussion with the central leaders like party president JP Nadda, general secretary (organization) B L Santhosh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are the matters relating to special and decisive drives to rejuvenate the party unit here.
“There is no scope for complacence and we have to take the plunge without wasting time as only 17 months or so are left for the elections. Preparations for the election with all guns blazing will start from this month only”, sources said.
It was learnt that before the elections while some changes would be initiated at the senior level police and civil administrations, there would be changes in the party also. All party units would be asked to embark on relentless activities and making people aware of the good jobs done by the present government. Cabinet reshuffling was already on the card.
On the emergence of Trinamool Congress in the state politics the sources said, though party did not feel Trinamool Congress was at all in a position to make much headway except creating some trouble, the matter especially the recent violence, allegations and counter allegations etc, however, would be discussed with the central leadership.
“Till now our main opposition in Tripura is CPM. They still have their organizational networks- though it has eroded to great extent and has been collapsing steadily in all fronts. But no denying the fact they do have some committed votes at some pockets”.
“Our aim is straight and simple. We are keen to get all the assembly seats and the Chief Minister and party president will be discussing the organizational matter in this direction only during their stay in Delhi. The strategies and priorities would be designed at the guidance of the central leaders”, said a senior BJP leader of the state.
