Agartala, Oct 31 (NationPress) In the midst of a complex relationship between the BJP and its ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the opposition Congress has declared that it will endorse all valid demands of the tribal-oriented party if it decides to exit the ruling coalition in Tripura.

Sudip Roy Barman, a former Minister and member of the Congress Working Committee, stated that TMP leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma has been issuing repeated warnings about leaving the BJP-led alliance if the tripartite ‘Tiprasa Accord’ is not swiftly enforced to protect the constitutional rights of the tribal populace.

Following the signing of the tripartite agreement, the opposition TMP, with 13 MLAs, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024, significantly altering Tripura’s political dynamics.

Two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were subsequently incorporated into the cabinet led by Chief Minister Manik Saha.

“There was a commitment to implement the accord within six months. However, it has been nearly 20 months since its signing without any tangible outcomes. The TMP has initiated protests demanding the implementation of the accord. If they genuinely wish for the socio-economic upliftment of the tribal community, why don’t they exit the coalition?” Roy Barman questioned. He urged TMP to leave the ruling alliance and mobilize the public for the immediate execution of the accord.

“Should TMP withdraw from the coalition with the BJP, Congress will cooperate with the party to address the economic, social, and political aspirations of the tribal people. Nonetheless, the public will not endorse the communal-centric politics of TMP,” asserted Roy Barman, who was joined by Tripura state Congress President Asish Kumar Saha.

Roy Barman also criticized both the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI-M-led Left Front for the ongoing delay in passing the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill.

This Bill aims to enhance the financial, executive, and administrative authority of tribal autonomous councils in the Sixth Schedule zones of the Northeastern states, which include 10 tribal autonomous bodies—three each in Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, and one in Tripura.

“The earlier Left Front government took an inordinate amount of time to convey its opinions to the Centre regarding the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill. Ultimately, it offered its suggestions in August 2013, just ahead of the state assembly general elections,” remarked Roy Barman.

Meanwhile, TMP supporters have engaged in a series of assaults across various districts, injuring over 20 BJP members and karyakartas. The TMP-affiliated Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS), led by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma, had enacted a state-wide shutdown on October 23 in support of its eight-point demand charter, which includes the expulsion of illegal migrants.

During this shutdown, some TMP activists reportedly attacked numerous individuals and officials in Santirbazar, Dhalai district, resulting in more than a dozen serious injuries.

Among the injured were Salema Block Development Officer Abhijit Majumdar, Kamalpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Samudra Debbarma, engineer Animesh Saha, and trader Subrata Paul, all of whom were hospitalized with critical injuries. With elections for the strategically significant Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) approaching early next year, both the BJP and TMP are independently striving to strengthen their influence within the tribal communities.