TIPRA Motha, the regional party led by Pradyot Kishore Debbarma- which has been espousing the cause of Greater Tipraland- has always been known as a communal party with unashamed anti-Bengali overtures in its political campaigns and utterings. Later, it tried to bring into its fold the Muslim community people from the non-tribal segments. But as the assembly elections are drawing near, Pradyot Kishore came out with a poll-centric strategy to influence the non-tribal voters too.
TIPRA Motha on Sunday opened one wing called- ‘Tipra Citizens’ Federation’ where he seeks to include the nontribal people , especially from the Minority, SC , OBC. Tea workers sections. The decision was announced in a press conference.
The moot point remained the same like that for what the TIPRA Motha says for the indigenous people – over the last decades these nontribal people were also discriminated against deprived of their dues.
Pradyot Kishore has found former MLA and long-time associate of his family Tapas De to head the federation. De is a known Congress leader and of late he was trying his hands in the politics along with Pijush Kanti Biswas and others. Biswas joined the Trinamool Congress while De thought it prudent to tag along TIPRA Motha. In fact, sources said that the floating of the federation was the brain child of De himself.
Apart from its attempt to soften its anti-nontribal image, the bid is also politically important for the TIPRA Motha as it wants to field candidates in the general and ST reserved seats also. Now with the ‘federation’ in place it will be easier for Pradyot to place some nontribal candidates also in the fray under its banner.
“We will fight in 45-50 seats and field candidates from non-tribal communities including those from backward communities, Muslims, and tea garden workers in the ensuing 2023 election in Tripura,” he said.
“People from all sections of the society, be it Minorities, SC, General or OBC, are welcome to join our movement. The federation will be headed by the former Congress MLA Tapas De,” Pradyot Kishore told reporters.
On the question of the possibility of a poll alliance, TIPRA Motha chairman stuck to his oft spoken stand said, “We shall not form any alliance unless we get a clear-cut agreement on papers regarding our demand for Greater Tipraland. We will not compromise with our demands and we are ready to contest between 45-50 seats in the ensuing assembly elections. We shall try to win over 30 seats on our own and form the government.”
