Facing heat over interlocutor, Pradyot targets CPI(M), alleges BJP bid to ‘break’ TIPRA

In an audio message posted on social media for its followers, Pradyot said he had been silent on these matters for several days, but he would speak up now. “I have seen in the last few days that few people who became MLA because I didn’t field a candidate, like Jitendra Chaudhury (CPI(M) state secretary and Sabroom MLA) is calling me a fraud. If I had given a candidate from Sabroom, he wouldn’t be sitting in the Assembly. He is calling TIPRA Motha leaders fraud. CPI(M) leaders ruled us for 35 years. They came to power with tribal votes. They didn’t give us food, a roof on our heads, education to children, tribals are backward since CPI(M) ruled us for 35 years. What did we get? Our community? Ideology?” he said.

In recent months, especially in the run-up to the February 2023 Assembly election, Pradyot, the scion of the erstwhile Tripura royal family, was seen sharing a cordial relation with Jitendra Chaudhury, with the latter even visiting him at Raj Andar of the Ujjayanta Palace, which is still owned by his family.

However, their relationship recently got strained with Chaudhury taking a swipe at the TIPRA Motha, even charging that Pradyot’s claim about the appointment of an interlocutor to discuss a constitutional solution for tribals’ problems was an “eyewash”.

In his audio post, Pradyot however also trained guns at the ruling BJP, firing salvos at some of its state tribal leaders. “Few BJP Janajati leaders are breaking away a hundred or a few of our supporters, who have shortage of money… We have no objection. If they want to break TIPRA Motha, they may try. TIPRA Motha may break but our demand for Greater Tipraland will not break, the demand of constitutional solution for tribals will not end. They should be ashamed that being tribals, they aren’t giving anything to tribals,” he charged, without taking any names.

He also said the BJP had assured “maximum autonomy” for tribals in the state before the Assembly elections, but was silent on the issue now despite being in power in the state and at the Centre.

Pradyot charged that the BJP as well as the Opposition CPI(M) and Congress betrayed a double-standard in their politics at the state and central levels.

“Nobody bothers about tribals in the state… I shall fight for the rights of our people. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose. The lion becomes silent… preparing for the next attack. My silence shouldn’t be taken as fear,” he said.

Citing his philanthropic work, including bringing home the students of Tripura stranded in the strife-torn Manipur or helping people during the Covid pandemic, Pradyot said, “It’s easy to hold press conferences but it’s hard to help one’s own community with money from one’s own pockets.”

He also said, “I’m not a politician. I’m here to help my community. Whoever wants to do politics can do so. I shall do my work. And those who live in glass houses shouldn’t pelt stones at others… See what I do for my people, community and for the next generation.”

Pradyot had said Sunday that A K Mishra was supposed to be in the state but he had to rush to Manipur on account of the recent violence and mayhem there. Notably, Mishra is also the Centre’s interlocutor for the Naga peace talks.

On Tuesday, Pradyot had said an internal committee of the TIPRA Motha, which was formed to assess its Assembly poll performance, has submitted its report. Based on its report, the party would be thoroughly “restructured” across the board, he said.