Tripartite accord: A face-saver for Tipra Motha

Subhasish Mitra (Wide Angle)

Identity politics revolving around questions of ethnicity, language and faith has been central to the Northeast. It has been witnessed in the past. And, the present developments too are no aberration.

 

The Tipra Motha, having 13 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, joined the government as an ally of the BJP and was allotted two ministerial berths.

 

Senior Tipra Motha leader Animesh Debbarma and party MLA Brishaketu Debbarma took oath as ministers in the BJP-led government.

 

The development came days after a tripartite agreement for amicably resolving all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura was signed in New Delhi between the Tipra Motha, the Tripura government and the Centre.

 

The tripartite accord in Tripura is a face-saver for the Tipra Motha, whose leader Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has been on a hunger strike. The Centre, the state government and Tipra Motha have agreed to constitute a joint working committee to resolve various contentious issues, including land rights, identity, language, and culture. Following the agreement, Debbarma has withdrawn his strike.

 

With the Cabinet expansion to accommodate two Tipra Motha lawmakers, currently there are 11 ministers in Tripura, including Chief Minister Manik Saha. According to the rules, the state can have 12 ministers, including the CM.

 

Tipra Motha, which formally joined the BJP-led government in Tripura on Thursday, said it would not give up its demand for a separate 'Greater Tipraland' state by carving out areas falling under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

 

The tripartite agreement signed on March 2 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah agreed to amicably resolve all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura related to history, land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture and language.

 

After the swearing-in ceremony, senior leader Animesh Debbarma said his party would move towards their "target".

 

When asked about 'Greater Tipraland', he said there would not be any shift from their demand. "We will work towards achieving our goal," he said.

 

On whether they would be able to launch a movement for their demand even after joining the government, he said, "Of course, we will be able to launch such a movement. There are instances of central ministers getting arrested while participating in movements. We will go ahead with our demands even in the government."

 

The party chief, Pradyot Debbarma said, "Those who have become ministers cannot change the style of working. They must raise their demands even in the cabinet. Whatever happens outside will also happen inside. We will also speak in Delhi about our demands."

 

After the Tipra Motha MLAs were administered the oath of office by Governor Nallu Indrasena Reddy in a ceremony at Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister Manik Saha said, "Very soon portfolios will be distributed to the newly inducted ministers."

 

"We  all want peace...," he said.

 

Besides the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Debbarma and many leaders of the ruling parties, and other dignitaries, were present during the swearing-in function.

 

Earlier, Animesh Debbarma submitted his resignation as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly to Speaker Biswabandhu Sen.