Pradyot Kishore ready for a dialogue, but specifies its scope
Pradyot Kishore Deb Barma, the leader of TIPRA Motha, has restated his willingness to engage in a conversation with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Assam's Chief Minister, provided that he is invited with respect. He has specified the scope of the dialogue, stating that it should focus on finding a constitutional solution to secure the rights of the indigenous people, rather than discussing cabinet appointments for elected TIPRA Motha members.
Debbarma attended a victory rally in Simna on Tuesday (March 8) – a day ahead of oath taking by Dr Manik Saha led BJP government for the second time in Tripura. From Simna Brishketu Debbarma – who was elected as IPFT candidate in 2018 from this seat and later resigned to join TIPRA Motha - was elected.
Addressing the gathering Debbarma said his party is ready to talk with the ruling party. “However, if the ruling party decides to rule the State excluding the ‘son of the soil’, ‘Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas’ cannot be done – we are ready”.
Like previous occasions, TIPRA Motha supremo continued to skip the ‘Greater Tipraland’ demand that caught the imagination of the indigenous people of the State.
Commenting on voting patterns, Debbarma said, “Muslims cast votes for CPM, indigenous people for TIPRA Motha and people in general seats voted for BJP”, he said referring to allegations that TIPRA Motha paved way for BJP.
TIPRA Motha contested in total 42 seats in 60 seats Tripura Assembly out of which 20 seats were reserved for the Schedule Tribes. TIPRA Motha won total 13 seats – all are ST seats – and BJP along with its ally IPFT won remaining seven seats. TIPRA Motha emerged the second largest party after BJP-IPFT sealed victories in 33 seats. CPIM could win in only 11 seats followed by its seat-sharing partner in Tripura Congress’ 3 seats.