Thirteen MPs from Tipra Motha were sworn in in the state assembly yesterday. (document)
Agartala:
Tipra Motha Party (TMP) chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma said on Friday that he has asked all party MLAs to open offices in Tripura constituencies to connect with grassroots people.
“I’ve asked all 13 of my MLAs to set up an office in their local constituency (rather than in their homes) so our people know where they can solve their problems. I’ve given them a chance to set up these office schedule and would like to see them operational at the earliest,” the former Tripura royal tweeted.
I have asked all 13 of my MLAs to set up an office in their local constituency (not in their homes) so our people know where they can address their problems. I’ve given them a timeline for setting up these offices and would like to see them in… https://t.co/q3jjqOyBULpic.twitter.com/eQ8zE4qrvW
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) March 17, 2023
Mr Balma’s party emerged as the main opposition party in the 16 February election, winning 13 seats. Thirteen MPs from Tipra Motha were sworn in in the state assembly yesterday.
The BJP won 32 seats and its ally Tripura Indigenous People’s Front won one.
Talks between the BJP and Tipra Motha reportedly fell through earlier this month over the tribal party’s demand for a separate “Grand Tipraland” state.
“I have held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on a constitutional solution to the Tiprasa issue. We will not join the government until our demands are resolved.” The former royal Said.
While the BJP may not need Tipra Motta’s support to hold Tripura, the new party’s stellar performance in its first election appears to have raised concerns among the ruling party about a general election in 2024.
A senior BJP leader earlier told NDTV that the leadership is eager to have Tipra Motha on board. “We think that if Tipra Motha stays in the opposition, it will be a strong opposition in and out of parliament. In the 2024 elections, the BJP wants to win the largest number of seats in the Northeast. But in Tripura’s tribal region, Tipra Motha may be our main challenger. So we want to resume negotiations,” the BJP leader said.
Mr De Balma, a former state assembly president, has repeatedly stressed that he is happy to sit in the opposition rather than compromise on his party’s core demands for “Grand Tipraland”.
