Will TMP Leaders Discuss the Tripartite Accord with HM Amit Shah?

Agartala, July 5 (NationPress) Leaders of the ruling BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) are set to engage with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to deliberate on the execution of the tripartite accord that was ratified on March 2 of the previous year, as stated by party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on Saturday.

The TMP leader emphasized that this meeting with the Union Home Minister is of paramount importance due to the growing discontent among party members at the grassroots level concerning the non-execution of the tripartite accord.

“In our discussions with the Home Minister, we will also address the issue of curtailing illegal migration from Bangladesh,” he informed IANS.

Debbarma also mentioned his talks with Chief Minister Manik Saha regarding the lack of implementation of the accord's provisions.

“The Chief Minister acknowledged the sentiments of the tribal community and assured us that he would convey the TMP's concerns at the appropriate levels,” he remarked.

Debbarma's comments came shortly after party MLA Rajit Debbarma threatened earlier on Saturday to withdraw support from the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura due to the non-fulfillment of the tripartite accord.

“If MLA Ranjit Debbarma has suggested withdrawing support from the government, it stems from a sense of frustration as genuine disappointment and insecurity are felt among the tribal populations in rural areas,” stated the TMP leader.

After extensive negotiations and signing a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government on March 2 of last year, the TMP, then in opposition with 13 MLAs, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, adding a new dynamic to the political landscape in Tripura.

On March 7, 2024, two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were included in the ministry led by Chief Minister Manik Saha.

The TMP's demands encompass increased autonomy for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and advancement in the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.

Initially, the TMP sought a ‘Greater Tipraland’—a separate state for tribals—under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. The ruling BJP, along with the opposition CPI-M and the Congress, has opposed this demand.

Despite contesting the 2023 Assembly elections independently, the TMP became a partner in the BJP-IPFT coalition government in March of the previous year.

Both the TMP and the IPFT are focused on tribal issues. The TMP emerged as a significant political force in April 2021 after winning control of the politically vital TTAADC, which governs two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km and is home to over 1.2 million individuals, approximately 84% of whom are tribals.

Tribal communities, representing one-third of Tripura's four million population, play a crucial role in the electoral politics of the state.

The potential withdrawal of support by the TMP is unlikely to destabilize the BJP-led government, as the saffron party maintains a solid majority with 33 MLAs.

In the 60-member Assembly, the BJP controls a majority with 33 MLAs, while its ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), holds one MLA.

BJP leaders have refrained from commenting on the TMP's recent decisions.