In a first, Conrad Sangma backs TIPRA Motha Party over ‘Greater Tipraland’

At Khumulwng Syndicate Grounds, Sangma said, “Many people have asked me why I am coming here. I told them I am coming to meet my Tiprasa (Tripuri tribals) brothers and sisters. I don’t need anyone’s permission for that. I have come to support Tiprasa brethren in the struggle against their grievances and difficulties. Different indigenous people live here in the NE. Different leaders in the region including BK Hrangkhawl in Tripura, Zoramthanga from Mizoram or PA Sangma from Meghalaya raised different issues of tribals. Though our roads are different, our target is one. We have undertaken different steps for the one destination.”

The TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) Motha was formed in 2021 over the demand of a Greater Tipraland state for tribals of Tripura and swept the tribal council polls in 2021 two months after it was floated.

While the tribal party had teamed up with the opposition Congress and CPIM in addition to engaging in dialogue with the BJP-led central government over its statehood demand, no other party had until now extended support to Motha’s political demand. A gathering of nearly 20,000 people was seen on Saturday.

While Sangma happens to be the only significant leader of any regional party in power in the NE region to have supported TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma’s statehood demand so far, a team of NPP legislators including Banteidor Lyngdoh, Sanjay Sangma, Albin Marak and Subir Marak were seen accompanying him at the event and expressing solidarity with the Tipra Motha.

“We need to be unified to make sure your demands are raised in the Parliament for a Constitutional solution. A team of MLAs from Meghalaya are with me who came for the first time here. We are not against any community but we have come to show solidarity to the cause of indigenous communities of Tripura,” Sangma said.

Sangma added while his visit to Saturday’s rally was the “first step to show unity of Northeast”, the potential to consider it politically would be explored later.