The three parties finalized the new regional political formation in Tripura on Saturday.
Agartala:
In a major political development in Tripura, the former head of the state Congress and royal descendant of Tripura, Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, has today forged a major alliance with two political parties. Mr. Deb Burman’s party, the Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) – has now merged with one of the state’s oldest parties – the Twipra Indigenous Nationalist Party (INPT) – and the People’s Front of Tripura (TPF).
Mr Deb Burman, who had left Congress due to disputes with the high command, is expected to corner the BJP-led government on two of the favorite projects – the NRC and CAA.
On Saturday, during a very important meeting held in Shillong, the three parties finalized this new regional political formation in Tripura.
The two-day meeting was held from October 1, at the initiative of Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman.
TPF chief Patal Kanya Jamatia and several INPT leaders attended the meeting.
Pradyot Manikya had resigned as president of Tripura’s Congress and its members last year and was in political hibernation until he recently formed the Regional Progressive Indigenous Alliance (TIPRA). TIPRA has acted as an umbrella organization for various tribal organizations, civil society groups and NGOs.
Sources added that the BJP had also tried to court him, but he was of the opinion to keep his distance from Congress and the BJP.
A joint press release issued by the three parties after the Shillong meeting said the front would work for the people of Tripura. They will work on the NRC, CAA, identification and elimination of illegal voters from the electoral roll, the law on forest rights, giving more power to the ADC (Autonomous District Council), direct funding of ADC, restoring illegally ceded land, among others.
A coordinating committee will be formed with the leaders of the three parties to work jointly.
Political observers believe that the re-emergence of Mr. Deb Burman in the political arena of Tripura is bad news for the BJP and its ally IPFT. With huge success among young people not only in Tripura, but in the northeast, he could emerge as a powerful face of opposition to BJP, they added.
