Tripura: In a major turn of events BJP ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) forged an alliance with Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman led The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance TIPRA on February 19.
This political development came ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections that is likely to be held within May 17 this year. The five-year tenure of the TTAADC expired on May 17, 2020. Thereafter the Governor's rule was imposed for a period of six months which was later extended for another six months on November 17.
The former Congress leader Deb Barman who quit the party in 2019 formed an alliance of few tribal parties and termed it TIPRA. One of the major demands of the indigenous parties is the creation of 'Greater Tipraland' that stands to bring an end to the socio-economic and deprivation of indigenous communities by forming a separate state with all TTAADC areas under the jurisdiction of the state.
Stitching an alliance with the IPFT, Tripura scion Deb Barman said that it has reached an understanding with the BJP ally IPTF on a number of issues including passing a resolution together for the 'Greater Tipraland' in the district council. He further added that the alliance will continue even after the election.
Addressing a press conference along with the TIPRA leader, IPFT supremo NC Debbarma said the alliance was made with a common objective of safeguarding the interests of the tribal communities.
The alliance was a major setback to the ruling BJP, after almost all the major tribal political parties aligned with TIPRA. While the IPFT said that it was not contented with the BJPs performance in safeguarding the indigenous rights, the alliance with the saffron party will continue,
In the 2018 Assembly polls the BJP gained a majority by stitching an alliance with IPFT and defeating the CPI(M)-led Left Front. In the 60-member Tripura Assembly, the BJP has 36 seats, the IPFT eight, and the CPI(M) has 16.
TTAADC is governed by a council of 30 seats, while 28 seats are filled electorally and the remaining two are reserved for nominated members.
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