Guwahati: The chief minister of Assam and the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke in front of the public on Friday before the assembly elections in Tripura and urged the electorate not to squander their votes on TIPRA Motha.
CM Sarma made the request while addressing a crowd in the Krishnapur assembly constituency of the Khowai district of Tripura, claiming that because TIPRA will not be able to form the government, any vote cast in their favour would be pointless.
Speaking to reporters there, the NEDA convenor said, “What is Tipraland…you have to divide Tripura to get Tipraland.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to CM Sarma was in talks with TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Debbarma about a potential merger. He said that the saffron party had presented a comprehensive plan for the advancement of Tripura, its languages, and the economic well-being of the indigenous people at a series of talks held in Guwahati earlier.
He said, “BJP is ready for any kind of devolution but do not ask to divide Tripura.”
The state of Tripura was founded by the royal dynasty of TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma, according to CM Sarma, and further partition would go against that. “BJP is not in favour of dividing Tripura,” he declared.
The Assam chief minister continued by saying that the BJP would rather be in opposition than see the state become even more polarised. If the interests of the tribal people come first, the BJP is prepared to undertake discussions with the TIPRA chief to resolve the disagreements.
“We will sit after the election also and if required even now with TIPRA Motha but one thing that is not possible is a division of Tripura apart from which everything is agreeable,” the convenor of NEDA mentioned.
Although the BJP is sure that it will have a majority in the state after the polls the party will only hold negotiations with TIPRA if Tripura remains intact.
It may be noted that the Assam CM Sarma had earlier said, “TIPRA Motha may win in some seats but they cannot form the government. They are not in Delhi also. Now, what TIPRA Motha is promising to people, how will they work for them if they are nowhere in Tripura or in Centre? Voting for TIPRA Motha or not is the same thing.”