TIPRA Motha Chief Pradyot Debbarma confident of a majority; says won’t seek vote to be MLA, MP, CM ever

Fighting its maiden Assembly elections all by itself, Tripura’s regional party TIPRA Motha is confident of not just of scoring big but getting a majority in the 60-member Tripura Assembly.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live after casting his vote, TIPRA Motha founder and chief Pradyot Debbarma said that the party will win a majority on its own. Commenting on the large number of people turning out to vote within hours of voting starting, he said it is a very good sign. A few goons cannot stop the lakhs of voters who have come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. “How many goondas, criminals are there? Maybe 100-200. They cannot stop the 22 lakh voters from coming our exercising their franchise”.

Asked about his poll plank this election, the royal scion whose main agenda has been the demand for Greater Tripraland, said, “I am asking for a constitutional solution and rights for the people leaving in the autonomous hill areas irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and community. I have fought this election on that plank. I am very hopeful, people have given a chance to the Congress, the CPM and the BJP, they will also give a chance to a local party from Tripura”.
Asked about his statement that he has been making off late regarding quitting politics after these elections, the royal scion who was the Tripura Congress President said, “I will not take any political chair. I said I will not take part in any electoral politics but I will always remain in TIPRA Motha committed till the time we don’t achieve our constitutional solution for our people. Till the time a constitutional solution is not found I am not going anywhere. All I have said is that I will not seek votes in the name of an MLA or a Chief Minister ever. My aim is to give something to my people and not become an MLA, MP or Chief Minister.”
Citing the example of Assam’s student leader Prafulla Mahanta who was later elected Chief Minister of the state for one term, the royal scion said, “had Mahanta decided to do social work, public work, people would have remembered him today. But today people look at him with pity. I don’t want to carry on after our objective is achieved. But till the time it is achieved I am very much in TIPRA Motha I am very much the conscious bearer of the party.”

Debbarma did mention that in some areas the polling has been peaceful while in some areas some incidents of violence and voters not being allowed to vote have been reported. He, however, expressed concern about reports of EVMs are not working properly in some polling stations.

TIPRA Motha is contesting in 42 of the 60 seats.

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