Royal scion-turned-politician and TIPRA Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma said on Tuesday that he would retire from politics after giving something to Tiprasa or tribals of the state.
In a video message on social media, Pradyot, who recently returned to Agartala after a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said nothing can be gained by becoming an MP, a minister or a member of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) or forming new political parties until people get united and raise their voice and make it heard in New Delhi.
“I want to do something for my people. I don’t want to do politics. So, I took a decision to stay away from politics and public life but only after giving something to my people,” the Tripura Opposition leader said in a video message, adding that he would take part in a rally and hold a movement in support of Greater Tipraland at Madhabbari on the outskirts of Agartala on July 8.
Sources said his jibe at forming a new political party was aimed at purported efforts of breaking away tribal leaders from Motha to form a separate political party.
Pradyot’s TIPRA Motha is a new party. Floated in 2021, Motha swept the Tripura ADC polls just two months after formation. It also became a dark horse in the Assembly polls this year and emerged as the main Opposition in the House with 13 MLAs.
Pradyot and a few of his party MLAs recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi over a constitutional solution for Greater Tipraland. Referring to the outcome of the meeting, he had said earlier that he made it clear that Motha was not interested in anything other than a constitutional solution for tribals and added that Shah was apprised that the tribals were getting “restless” for an early resolution.
“We can pressurise the central government through the movement. When there is a movement, the government will be under pressure. I shall speak with my leader of the Opposition and other leaders on the issue. We need to hold movements and create pressure on the government for our demand,” Pradyot said on Tuesday. He also said that a process to revamp the party organisation is on the cards and the issue would be finalised during the party’s plenary session on July 15 and 16.
“We shall restructure the party and keep only those who give importance to the community rather than party. Many people told me that the party should be made strong. See, a party can be strong if the Tipraland movement can be made strong. If a party starts thinking for itself rather than the community, then this party’s countdown starts…For me, my people, their faith is dearer than my party,” he said and urged party leaders and activists to start a peaceful movement for Greater Tipraland in their respective areas.
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While Pradyot did not clarify if there were people in his party who were not giving due importance to the community, political watchers said he might be facing differences with a section of his leaders who want to move closer to the BJP.
Debbarma also said that he would not commit the same mistake as the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, who are part of the state government since 2018. “I shall not make the mistake done by IPFT. Unless our demand for a constitutional solution for Greater Tipraland is met, we shall not sit in the government,” he said.
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Pradyot’s TIPRA Motha holds significant sway among tribals and his party is expected to be a major factor for the 2024 polls since one of the two Lok Sabha seats in Tripura is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.