Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday declined to comment on the announcement by the ruling BJP’s ally TIPRA Motha and several other Northeast parties of a new regional force to speak in one voice.
“I don’t want to react to the development. As everyone has the liberty to do what they like. (The formation of the new regional party) was their wish. So they can do that. But our main agenda is to stick to the development of the indigenous people in the state,” Saha said.
So far, no one from the state BJP has commented on the announcement made by TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, and others in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the TIPRA Motha said that people’s interest was paramount and that Tiprasa people were more important than the future of any political party.
“My only brand is the people. There is no brand bigger than the people and the future of our people. Even the Bubagra brand is not bigger than the Tiprasa, people of Tripura. And for me, for the interest of my country, my Northeast, my people, that is my brand. I don’t fall in love with brands. I have fallen in love with my community, my people. For me, that is the most important thing, and whoever takes me there, I will go there. Tiprasa people are more important than the future of the BJP, TIPRA Motha, CPM, or Congress. I was also in the Congress. I am not thinking about any party, I am thinking about jati (community),” Pradyot told reporters after arriving in Agartala on Wednesday.
Leaders of Meghalaya’s ruling National People’s Party, TIPRA Motha, regional political parties like the Peoples Party of Assam, former BJP leader and ex-minister Mmohunlumo Kikon, and others came together and announced the new political formation in New Delhi on Tuesday.
“We are saying the same thing. We are speaking the same thing from separate platforms as Tiprasa, as Mizos, as Nagas, but we, as indigenous people, never raised our voice together in Delhi . Today, Tiprasa are not alone; today Garos are with Tiprasa, Nagas are with Tiprasa; Arunachalis, Manipuris, Assamese, Dimasas, Boros are with Tiprasa. We are not standing alone. Because now thansa (unity) of the Northeast will happen,” Pradyot said.
Pradyot Kishore Debbarma’s poser for CM Saha
Pradyot also talked about the long-overdue elections to the village committees of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), for which the Supreme Court has refused to give the Government more time.
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Referring to Saha’s reaction that the Government was ready for any polls, the TIPRA Motha founder said, “Why did we need to go to the Supreme Court? High Court? Why the contempt notice? The last ADC village committee polls were held in 2016. Now, 2026 is coming. The monarchy is over and democracy is going on…Why were village committee polls not held in our democracy in the last 9 years?”
