Agartala: The internal conflict within Tripura’s ruling TIPRA Motha party in the Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) has escalated, following reports that two party legislators held meetings with BJP leaders and candidates ahead of the ADC polls scheduled for April 12.A photograph that surfaced showed senior TIPRA Motha leader and forest minister Animesh Debbarma, along with MLA Chittaranjan Debbarma, attending an organisational meeting at the BJP’s Ambassa Circuit House in Dhalai district.Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma openly expressed dissatisfaction with the development, revealing that the two MLAs not only attended the Ambassa meeting but were also present at another meeting in Khowai with BJP candidates.He alleged that Animesh Debbarma had shown minimal involvement in Motha’s election campaign and accused him of secretly supporting BJP candidates. Similar accusations were made against Chittaranjan Debbarma for allegedly assisting in BJP’s electoral strategies.These revelations have fuelled speculation across Tripura’s political circles that Animesh and Chittaranjan Debbarma may be aligning with the BJP and working to undermine TIPRA Motha’s prospects in the ADC elections.In response, minister Animesh Debbarma said politics today cannot be sustained solely on appeals to ethnic emotions and criticised TIPRA Motha for inconsistent ideologies and shifting commitments.Animesh further criticised TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, accusing him of prioritising family interests over the party’s cause.He questioned the decision to field Pradyot’s sister, Kriti Devi Singh, who resides in Chhattisgarh, as a BJP candidate for the East Tripura parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha elections. Kriti won that seat on a BJP ticket, which Animesh claimed was less about tribal unity or ideology and more about rehabilitating a family member.He also recalled that Pradyot had previously fielded another sister, Prangya Debbarman, as a Congress candidate for the same East Tripura seat in the 2019 General Election, which she lost.Animesh accused Pradyot of hypocrisy, using emotional appeals to tribal identity under slogans like “Thansa” (unity) while promoting familial political agendas. He questioned how members of Pradyot’s own family could be affiliated with different political parties, including Congress and BJP, arguing that this undermines their call for tribal unity.As of now, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman has not issued a response to these allegations.
