Pradyot's TIPRA announces merger with 2 parties; to continue push for 'Greater Tipraland'

AGARTALA: Tripura royal scion Pradyot Manikya's 'TIPRA' today strengthened itself by merging with two regional parties -- the IPFT Tipraha and Tipraland State Party -- ahead of the elections in the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

 

Announcing the merger in Agartala today, Pradyot said, "There is no use in floating small parties. For the greater cause of Tipraland, we all have to contest the polls unitedly."

 

Thanking the leaders who have taken part in this process, Manikya said that the newly formed party would contest the ensuing ADC polls together.

 

Outlining the party's primary poll planks, Pradyot stated that the party seeks the formation of a separate state Greater Tipraland, implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, fighting the 'CAA' and "creating a better Tipraland for everyone."

 

Manikya said that the demand for a separate state is a direct result of the government's refusal to implement an Assam-like NRC in the state.

 

Asked about forging alliances with other political parties ahead of the polls, Manikya said that discussions are yet to be held. "For us to forge an alliance with the other parties, we have to hold discussions and deliberations with them first."

 

Manikya further informed the newsmen that he will make a big announcement in the evening today.

 

 

Debbarma said he is in touch with all regional tribal outfits in the state, seeking an alliance in the interest of fighting the polls together, and will wait another week before taking a call on the same.

The scion had earlier said he has made an offer to other regional parties to either merge with TIPRA or fight the polls jointly.

 

Pradyot further revealed that he has held discussions with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), IPFT-Tipraha – a breakaway faction of the ruling tribal party, Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), Tipraland State Party (TSP) and Tripura People’s Front (TPF), among others.

 

On January 12, the state government filed an affidavit before the Tripura High Court, saying that it would conduct the ADC polls by May 17 this year. The polls were earlier deferred 'indefinitely' after the COVID-19 landed on India's shores. The tenure of the previous Council expired on May 17, 2020.

According to sources, the election schedule will be announced after the Budget session in March of 2021.

 

Debbarma resigned as the state Congress president in 2019, citing differences with the party leadership.