Agartala, Jan 19: In a big development, Tipra Motha Chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi and discussed the issue of Greater Tipraland.
Talking to reporters, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma said, “We held a meeting with NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday in New Delhi and I have clearly said that we would not compromise with the Greater Tipraland demand.”
“Without written assurance, we would not believe in any alliance. We will not go with any alliance. We will be contesting in 40-45 seats,” said Debbarma.
He said the party will not negotiate on the Greater Tipraland issue for any post or any alliance, until the people are given assurance in writing for a constitutional solution under Article 2 & 3 for Greater Tipraland.
The Tripura Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) or Tipra Motha, a regional political party led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, seeks a ‘greater Tipraland’, a separate state for the indigenous people of Tripura.
Earlier on January 16, Debbarma said he will not forge an electoral alliance with any political party until a written assurance on ‘greater Tipraland’ is given to his regional party.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the polling date for Tripura Assembly elections, which will be held on February 16 and counting of votes will be held on March 2.
BJP along with its ally IPFT routed the Left Front in Tripura in 2018, winning 44 seats in the 60-member Assembly, ending the Left’s 25-year rule that started in 1993. CPI-M could secure only 16 seats in 2018.
