BJP’s ally in Tripura, TIPRA Motha demands one more Cabinet berth

TIPRA Motha, an alliance partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura, has demand for an additional cabinet berth with key departments.

This follows dissatisfaction over the progress on a significant tripartite agreement signed in New Delhi earlier this year between the central government, Tripura government and the party regarding socio, cultural, economic and political development of the indigenous population of Tripura.

While speaking to Northeast Live, TIPRA Motha president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl said that a three-member delegation from the party, including himself, recently met with Chief Minister Manik Saha to press for another cabinet position.

TIPRA Motha, which holds 13 seats in the 60-member Assembly, argues that it deserves three cabinet posts, especially given that the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) — another BJP ally with only one MLA — has a cabinet minister.

Currently, TIPRA Motha has one cabinet minister, Animesh Debbarma, who has voiced dissatisfaction with the departments allocated to him. Another MLA from the party, Brishketu Debbarma, serves as a minister of state.

Hrangkhawl emphasized that the party’s founder, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, is also advocating for this demand during his meetings with senior BJP leaders and ministers in New Delhi.

The delegation, which included former Minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia and ex-MLA Rajeshwar Debbarma, during meeting Chief Minister Saha had expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the tripartite agreement over the past few months.

The agreement, which holds significant implications for the indigenous population of Tripura, has seen little ground implementation, raising concerns within TIPRA Motha.

The party also highlighted the need to organize village council elections and by-elections for vacant Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) seats along with the Panchayat polls. However, Chief Minister Saha assured them that these elections would take place later this year.

Hrangkhawl warned that the delay in implementing the agreement could strain the alliance between TIPRA Motha and BJP.

He added that despite being part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), TIPRA Motha plans to contest the upcoming Panchayat polls independently.

As the political dynamics in Tripura evolve, the demands and dissatisfaction of TIPRA Motha are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the state’s governance and the welfare of its indigenous population.