Greater Tipraland freeze, interlocutor standoff: TIPRA steps up to regain Opp role as Pradyot faces BJP heat

The Motha’s core demand, however, subsequently underwent some change ahead of the Assembly polls held in February this year, with the party saying Greater Tipraland would mean an autonomous state within Tripura as per the Constitution of India that would have various tribal development measures like direct funding from the Centre.

The state’s other major Opposition parties, the CPI(M) and the Congress, have long accused Pradyot of taking a “soft line” towards the BJP as he has often met top BJP leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the issue of an interlocutor, whose appointment was “promised” to the Motha by the Centre for examining the tribals’ grievances and considering the demand for a “constitutional solution” for their welfare.

Making its debut in the elections to the 60-member state Assembly, the Motha emerged as the second largest party with 13 seats, even as the incumbent BJP managed to retain power by winning 32 seats. With tribals forming the core of its support base, the Motha would be a formidable force in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state, given that one of its two Lok Sabha seats, East Tripura, is reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP has been in talks with the Motha even after the Assembly poll results, with the Manik Saha government keeping three ministerial berths vacant so far.

Since the formation of the new BJP government in March, the Motha has fought shy of taking a hard line vis-a-vis the government on a host of crucial issues.

First, it promised to back the CPI(M) and Congress over the election of an Opposition candidate as the Assembly Speaker but backed out of it at the last moment.

The party announced aggressive campaigns a few times since then, including an indefinite protest demonstration at Hatai Kotor (erstwhile Baramura Hill range) to demand Greater Tipraland, which was suspended after Pradyot’s meeting with Himanta.

Some Left leaders even called the Motha the “B-team of BJP”. Pradyot found himself in a spot since an interlocutor has not visited the state so far despite assurances that he apparently got from the Centre in this regard.

Taking a jibe at Pradyot and the Motha, CPI(M) Politburo member and ex-CM Manik Sarkar called their position “ridiculous” over the interlocutor affair. “Those who are involved in this are taking themselves to a ridiculous position. It is bound to happen. One can’t go far with deceit. Those who do this and think they will win, will be caught (in a trap) sometime. People wouldn’t let them go,” Sarkar alleged.

As the Motha finds itself in deep water now, its MLAs held protest in the House, demanding action against a BJP legislator who allegedly watched porn during the last Assembly session. After the Speaker declined to clarify if their adjournment motion was accepted or not, the Motha joined the CPI(M) and Congress in their joint protest for the first time as a united Opposition. The Motha MLAs also created a ruckus in the Well of the House that led to four of them being suspended along with a CPI(M) legislator.

Shortly afterwards, Pradyot tweeted about the Rs 27,654 crore state budget, saying “It’s shocking to see that the Govt of Tripura has allocated less than 2 percent of the funds for the development of TTAADC. Almost 70 percent of land comes under ADC and 35 percent of the state population lives in the ADC. This step motherly treatment is the reason we demand greater Tipraland”.

The tribal party also charged that the BJP-led government has failed to live up to the promises it made in its “Sankalp Patra” before the Assembly polls.

Motha sources said the party was apprehensive that some supporters might switch loyalties and defect to the BJP ahead of the 2024 polls. They said the party has been working to restructure its rank and file and purge such leaders.

Pradyot also said his party would promote new leaders. He advised the Motha workers to stay grounded and work for the “dofa” or community, saying those hankering after position or power would be axed.

However, if a section of the Motha’s supporters break away to join the BJP in villages, the chasm between the two sides might deepen further.