Tipra-Motha adamant over ‘greater Tipraland’ demand, will fight elections alone in 50 to 55 seats
After rounds of talks with ruling BJP and oppositions CPI(M) and Congress for pre-poll alliance, but the leaders of Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (Tipra-Motha) on Monday cleared that they will not form any alliance with any political party until they are not given any written assurance over their core ideological demand of a permanent constitutional solution for ‘greater Tipraland’.
Addressing a press conference on Monday evening here at Rajbari, the president of Tipra-Motha Bijoy Kumar Hranghkhawl accompanied by party’s senior leader Jagadish Debbarma, Chittra Ranjan Deb and Mevar Kumar Jamatia said they went to Guwahati, discussed before BJP leadership that they didn't go to talk about any post or alliance.
However, they discussed with the IPFT leaders but yet to reach into a final decision. The leaders said we have appealed them to come into one platform as our core demands are same and now they are to take a decision.
“Till date, we have-not received any written proposal or assurance from any national party and the speculation in the media about TIPRA’s alliance for the 2023 assembly elections is entirely baseless and holds no substance,” said Hranghkhawl.
He said that Tipra-Motha is not merely a political party, they are a movement and will not compromise on the hopes and aspirations of millions who have supported their journey.
He added that in the past all the political alliances by regional parties with the national parties without any written agreement have not done any justice to the indigenous people.
“ If any government starts talks, Motha would talk but if no discussions on constitutional provisions were included, we can't talk. If the government of India assures us to discuss on ‘greater Tipraland’, we can start talks and there's always scope of reopening of talks at any point,” said Hranghkhawl.
Elaborating their demands, Hranghkhawl said that the ‘greater Tipraland’ is a state within a state and it will give lots of benefit to the deprived people . He added that ADC or whatever nomenclature, wants legislative power and if they get the legislative power , they can solve unemployment and uplift the socio-economic status of tribal population.
As the party is rapidly increasing its footprints across the state, the party leadership has decided to field candidates from all communities and religions across several SC and non-reserved seats to gain the absolute majority mark on our own, said Chitta Ranjan Debbarma and added that Motha will file candidates in 50 to 55 assembly seats.
He said that within two days the party will announce the candidate list and their supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma will take the final decision in this regard.
He said Tipra Citizen Federation (TCF) is gaining momentum and they are receiving tremendous support from a cross section of the society and Motha will give priority to the candidates from TCF.
They also appealed to different parties and people to join to replace the present regime which had become unfamiliar with the people. Many people, minorities, indigenous, non-tribals have joined us to make an alternative government in 2023, said Jagadish Debbarma.
Jagadish said that they can continue their talk with parties and the final decision will be taken by their supreme leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.
While speaking in the press meet Mevar Kumar Jamatia said that Tripura has 40 lakh people and is getting a budget allocation of Rs 20,000 crore, if two states, then they shall get double the budget, population is the same. “If you create a separate state within the state, it will help everyone and develop all sections of people,” said Jamatia and added that Arunachal Pradesh gets double budget of 35,000 crore with less population.