In view of upcoming polls in Tripura tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), major political realignment is emerging as Congress has conceded its only ally in the State to a call by ex-Congress Chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman for unity among regional indigenous parties.
“Former Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Pardyot Kishore Debbarman on Saturday succeeded to convenience INPT (Indegenous Nationalist Party of Twipra) to withdraw its support from the Congress led potential alliance.
With this, the Tripura Pradesh Congress party had lost its only regional partner that was about to make a pre-poll alliance with the party in the run up to the TTAADC elections.
The INPT which had been seen openly rubbing its shoulders with the Congress party taking part in many of Congress party’s programmes, finally resolved to dump the old partner and choose to be a part of a greater regional alliance.
In presence of Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, INPT second in command Jagadhish Debbarma signed an agreement with the Pradyot’s newly floated TIPRA (Tripura Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) at Shillong. Another political party TPF (Tripura People’s Front) also joined the alliance. TPF supremo Patal Kanya Jamatia also signed the agreement with TIPRA.
In his reaction, Pradyot however denied any political alliance or interest towards TTAADC elections but said that it was a greater unity for a united tomorrow and also urged other regional parties to come under the same fold on ideological basis.
“I have tried my best and succeeded in ensuring that INPT and TPF along with TIPRA unite unconditionally on the basis of Ideology and not for elections. I will also appeal in writing to all other organizations and parties such as IPFT – an ally of ruling BJP, TSP, Tipraha who agree with our ideology to come front and unite with us as stated on point no 5 of the press note . I really would like more leaders to come and unite as one alliance. On my part I am not taking any political role or position and would like to devote my energy in ensuring unity in the future”, Pradyot said.
TPCC President Pijush Biswas on the other hand said, “TIPRA from the beginning has been proclaimed as an apolitical organization. On the contrary, INPT is by birth a political outfit. The alliance between a political and an apolitical organization is really a matter to think of”.
Political observers however said that it was an attempt to consolidate indigenous parties under one umbrella but as it seemed it might not see a major success in the present context.
