Greater Tipraland issue non-negotiable, need written assurance for any alliance: TIPRA Motha Chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma

With less than a month left for the assembly elections in Tripura, TIPRA Motha Chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma held a closed door meeting with NEDA Convenor and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this afternoon in New Delhi and discussed the issue of Greater Tipraland.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Debbarma said “I told him (CM Sarma) that there will be no credibility left with us if we betray our own people. We cannot negotiate on the Greater Tipraland issue for any post or any alliance, until our people are given assurance in writing for a constitutional solution under Article 2 & 3 for Greater Tipraland.”

Replying to a query regarding what will be his party’s stand if the BJP gives a written assurance, Pradyot said, “The BJP cannot give, it has to be given by the Government of India, because constitutional solution can be given only by the government.”

“Give us in writing and then we will consider it,” Pradyot added.

When asked if his party is mulling on aligning with other parties, Pradyot said, “Why only BJP? We talked to the Congress also, spoke to Jitendra Choudhury also who is from the CPI-M and I have made it clear that without written assurance we will not go into alliance with any party.”

Debbarma also said that the TIPRA Motha will be contesting the elections in at least 40-45 seats. He said, “We will fight the elections for winning it and we are giving candidates in 40-45 seats. We are not going for any alliance unless somebody gives it in writing that our greater Tipraland demand will be fulfilled.”

The TIPRA Motha has already extended an offer of alliance to IPFT, an ally of BJP in Tripura.