Agartala (Tripura) July 25: A delegation from the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), a junior partner in Tripura’s BJP-led coalition government, held a significant meeting with BJP National President J.P. Nadda in New Delhi on Thursday (July 24).
According to party insiders, the discussions primarily focused on the urgent necessity of launching a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tripura.
What Else Was Discussed?
According to a TMP spokesperson in Agartala, the delegation raised alarm over national security challenges posed by the internal situation in neighboring Bangladesh. The TMP leaders expressed concern over the increasing persecution of minority communities in Bangladesh, which they argued could have spillover effects in Tripura.
The TMP delegation, comprising nine members and led by party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, also took up the matter of executing the tripartite agreement signed on March 2 last year. Nadda, who also serves as the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, was briefed on the need to expedite the implementation process.
Besides Pradyot Debbarma, the meeting included TMP ministers Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, and Tripura East Lok Sabha MP Kriti Devi Debbarman and other TMP MLAs and leaders.
What Happened to the Tripartite Accord Promises?
“The central government had earlier committed to implementing the terms of the tripartite agreement before last year’s Lok Sabha polls to safeguard the interests of Tripura’s indigenous population,” the TMP spokesperson pointed out. However, the party continues to press for its full execution.
TMP’s Delhi Visit: A Brief Roundup
On Wednesday (July 23), TMP leaders met with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Pradyot Debbarma stated that the Commission confirmed that the SIR exercise would be undertaken nationwide, including in Tripura.
Why Is TMP Emphasizing SIR in Tripura?
After the meeting, Debbarma told the media that TMP had emphasized the immediate need to identify and eliminate illegal entries from the electoral rolls in Tripura. “Illegal immigration is threatening the demographic balance in our region. If we don’t act now, our future generations will suffer. The ECI has assured us that SIR will take place across India, including Tripura,” he stated.
TMP submitted a formal letter to the ECI demanding a full-scale SIR in Tripura, along with a rigorous door-to-door voter verification campaign—mirroring the intensive model recently launched in Bihar.
TMP’s Political Role in State
Following prolonged negotiations and the historic signing of a tripartite accord with the Centre and the Tripura government on March 2, 2024, TMP – then in opposition with 13 MLAs – joined the ruling coalition just five days later, on March 7. This marked a turning point in the state’s political landscape.
On the same day as their political alignment with the BJP-led coalition, TMP legislators Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma were sworn in as ministers in the Manik Saha-led cabinet.
Besides, The party’s key demands include enhanced autonomy for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and substantial socio-economic upliftment of the tribal communities. (Edited)
