Tripura: Meghalaya Chief Minister To Attend TIPRA Motha Party Rally In Support Of Greater Tipraland Cause

The TIPRA Motha party, led by Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, is intensifying its call for Greater Tipraland, a separate state for tribal communities in Tripura.

As reported by Indian Express, the party is planning a significant rally on 14 October in Khumulwng, the headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

A noteworthy development is the confirmation that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma of Meghalaya, leader of the National People's Party (NPP), will attend the rally as the chief guest, signaling support for the Greater Tipraland cause.

Debbarma has encouraged people from all political backgrounds to join the rally and expressed his excitement about a chief minister participating in a regional party's event in Tripura, alongside his cabinet ministers.

The participation of Chief Minister Sangma is remarkable because of his alliance with the BJP-led NDA in the North East and the NPP's presence in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.

Debbarma, formerly a Congress leader, founded the TIPRA Motha party in 2021 with the initial goal of advocating for Greater Tipraland.

During this year's state assembly elections, the BJP secured a simple majority with 32 out of 60 seats, and its ally, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), won one seat.

Subsequently, the TIPRA Motha party engaged in discussions with the central government, led by the BJP, regarding their Greater Tipraland demand.

In the August assembly by-elections, the TIPRA Motha party opted not to field candidates and instead collaborated with the Congress and CPI(M).

There have been reports of the Congress leadership approaching Debbarma and inviting him to return to the party in a prominent role.

Following a successful dawn-to-dusk strike on 30 September organised in the TTAADC belt to support the Greater Tipraland demand, the TIPRA Motha party is gearing up for the 14 October rally.

In the North East, some tribal parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) for not holding meetings since ethnic clashes in Manipur in May.

Conrad's decision to join the TIPRA Motha rally, focusing on the Greater Tipraland agenda, has raised concerns and faced resistance from some BJP leaders.

Debbarma's collaboration with Conrad Sangma and his interactions with various regional leaders suggest a growing momentum in the Greater Tipraland movement and potential shifts in northeastern politics.