The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Kriti Singh, the elder sister of Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, as its candidate for the East Tripura seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This decision comes after several days of speculation surrounding Kriti’s potential candidacy and was officially confirmed by the BJP on Wednesday.
The BJP’s decision to nominate Kriti Singh marks a departure from the party’s previous strategy, as both sitting MPs from West Tripura and East Tripura seats, Pratima Bhowmik and Rebati Tripura respectively, have been dropped. Instead, former Chief Minister and current Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb has been given the ticket for the West Tripura seat, while Kriti Singh will contest from the East Tripura seat.
Kriti Singh happens to be wife of Yogendra Singh of Kawardha, Chhatishgarh. She was never to have taken interest in Tripura issues or Tripura politics. But Pradyot Kishore bargained for the ticket for his sister in exchange of Tipra Motha votes.
Reacting to Kriti’s nomination, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee expressed his confidence in her candidacy, highlighting her experience in politics and her commitment to the development of the Janajati people. Bhattacharjee emphasized the party’s focus on unity and development, stating, “We all shall work together for the development of our Janajati people and building Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura.”
Kriti Singh, who hails from a royal family and is 52 years old, is married to a two-time MLA from Chhattisgarh. Her entry into the political fray has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing satisfaction at the prospect of her candidacy and others voicing dissatisfaction over the perceived influence of familial ties in her nomination.
In a parallel development, Tipra Motha, the political party founded by Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, has joined the BJP-led government in Tripura, transitioning from being the main opposition party to becoming a partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While some view this move as a positive step towards the development and prosperity of the Janajati people, others have expressed discontentment over Pradyot’s role, particularly concerning the candidature of his sister, Kriti Singh.
With the stage set for a heated electoral contest in Tripura, all eyes are now on the Lok Sabha polls to see how these political maneuvers will shape the future of the state’s political landscape.
