TIPRA Motha releases poll manifesto, Pradyot says won’t support any govt until..

The Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) Motha, led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, on Saturday released its poll manifesto for the February 16 Tripura assembly elections keeping the Greater Tipraland as its core agenda and said the party will not support any government till their core demand of a permanent Constitutional solution for the tribal community is not fulfilled in writing.

Unveiling the ‘vision document’ at Ujjayanta Palace, abode of the royal family, Debbarma said, “We shall not support any government or sit in the government till our core demand of a permanent Constitutional solution is not fulfilled in writing. We prefer to sit in the opposition rather. Our party will never accept a few ministerial posts without any understanding regarding our demand.”

The TIPRA Motha earlier announced that it will contest without any alliance and accordingly fielded candidates in 42 seats in the 60-member Assembly. Formed in 2021, the party is currently in power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Debbarma added that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s ally the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has become non-existent today. The IPFT in alliance with the BJP formed government in 2018 for the first time.

“I don’t want to break Tripura. Who kept India poor? Who wants to break India in the name of religion? Why daari ( beard) of Muslims looks scared?” he said adding that the Greater Tipraland would not throw out anyone but would include all communities.

He also promised a resolution against the BJP-led Centre’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Assembly, if voted to power.

Debbarma said his party’s vision document is a true reflection of the needs and aspirations of the people of Tripura and added that it is a commitment to prioritise and expedite the key issues plaguing the state’s progress.

In its ‘vision document’, the party promised to fulfil its ‘Mission 15 in 150 Days’ if it comes to power.

It included a speedy public grievance redressal system for citizens by setting up of a dedicated unit directly under the chief minister’s secretariat, empowerment of TTAADC through hike in allocation of budget, 20,000 fresh jobs and employment opportunities both in government and private sectors, providing land patta allotment to deprived persons, passing Bills in the Assembly to set up a Tribal University, Agriculture University, Sports University and Buddhist University, resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Assembly, conducting pending TTAADC village committee polls, which were scheduled to be held last year, and others.

The doorstep delivery of government scheme and benefits, a socio-economic survey of all tribes, social welfare, women and child welfare, action plans to attain zero poverty, zero hunger, zero violence, zero corruption, zero drugs and zero school dropouts are also included in the mission.

“Law and order will be maintained, employment will be given, a change in culture of politics will be achieved if TIPRA Motha is voted to power,” Debbarma said.

He also announced Maharani Kanchanprabha Devi Women Empowerment Scheme for small-scale micro industries for production of rignai, risa (indigenous outfits) and packaged food awareness campaign through state-run initiatives, policies to grant rights to LGBTQ individuals and 30 percent subsidies for entrepreneurship if his party comes to power.