Days after Tripura accord, Oppn Tipra set to join BJP Cabinet, bags two berths

The Tipra’s Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly Animesh Debbarma and party MLA Brishaketu Debbarma would join the Saha Cabinet, although their portfolios are yet to be finalised.

The accord was signed in New Delhi on March 2 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Pradyot Kishore and other senior BJP and Tipra leaders. It had brought an end to the fast-unto-death undertaken by Pradyot from February 27 in the state.

When asked about the reason for the Tipra’s move, especially after he had repeatedly said earlier that it would not join the BJP government, Pradyot said the decision was taken to ensure that the accord was properly implemented.

“Our legislators will work in the state government and ensure that funds flow properly to the ADC (Autonomous District Council ruled by the Tipra), that the clauses in the accord are followed to the letter,” he said.

State BJP president Rajib Bhattacharya also told reporters that the Tipra is going to join the party-led government ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In the 60-member state Assembly, the Tipra has 13 MLAs as compared to the BJP’s 32 legislators and its ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT)’s lone MLA, who is also a minister.

Currently, the BJP Cabinet has nine ministers including the CM. The state can have a maximum of 12 ministers, as per the rule.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won both the Tripura’s parliamentary seats with a total vote share of 49.6%. The Congress was the runner-up in both seats with a vote share of 25.6%, followed by the CPI(M) at 17.5%.

The BJP’s performance in the 2023 Assembly polls was similarly dominant. It had contested 55 of the state’s 60 seats in an alliance with the IPFT. Besides clearing the majority mark, the BJP garnered 38.97% of the votes polled as against the Tipra’s 19.69% votes. The CPI(M) and the Congress, which contested the polls as allies, won 11 and 3 seats, respectively. The CPI(M)’s vote share was 24.62% while the Congress secured 8.56% votes.

The tripartite pact seeks to work out and implement an “honourable solution” to the grievances of the tribal population of Tripura.

The agreement notes that a series of meetings had been held with The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (Tipra), popularly known as Tipra Motha, and other stakeholders, based on which the Centre, the Tripura government and the Tipra have agreed to “amicably resolve” all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to their history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc.

“It was agreed to constitute a Joint Working Group / Committee to work out and implement the mutually agreed points on all the above mentioned issues in a time-bound manner to ensure an honourable solution. In order to maintain a conducive atmosphere for implementation of this Agreement, all stakeholders shall refrain from resorting to any form of agitation/protest during this period, starting from the day of signing,” the accord says.