Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma left for New Delhi on Thursday for discussions on unresolved issues related to the implementation of the tripartite agreement in Tripura, with a high-level meeting likely to be held on Friday, he said.
Debbarma said Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and other senior leaders of the party are expected to attend the meeting.
Before leaving for Delhi, Debbarma said, “Maharaj has called us to Delhi today. There is a possibility of a meeting tomorrow. I am also going with minister Brishaketu Debbarma. We hope to have a fruitful meeting.”
He said expansion of the powers of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) could be one of the key issues discussed at the meeting. The issue of forming a vigilance committee had also been raised by Tipra Motha during the discussions, he said.
“Our position on these issues has already been conveyed. This time, specific issues will be discussed further,” Debbarma said. He added that the alliance process had been taken forward with the objective of ensuring the constitutional rights of the Tiprasa people.
On reports of a proposed 70:30 seat-sharing formula in the upcoming alliance, Debbarma said no such arrangement had been finalised yet.
“No, we have not reached that stage yet. First, we have to understand their position on our rights. The next step will depend on that understanding. Otherwise, nothing will move forward,” he said.
Debbarma said the seat-sharing ratio would be made public once a final agreement was reached.
He also said Tipra Motha had already begun its preparations for the election. The party has started distributing nomination forms and has also constituted an election committee, he said.
Debbarma could not confirm whether representatives of the Central government would be present at the proposed meeting. However, he indicated that the upcoming Village Committee elections and the possibility of an alliance would be discussed at the senior level.