Don't Waste Your Vote On TIPRA: Assam CM

Ahead of the assembly elections in Tripura, Assam Chief Minister and the convenor of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday addressed a public gathering where he asked the people of the state to not waste their vote on TIPRA Motha.

While addressing a gathering at Krishnapur assembly constituency in the Khowai district of Tripura, CM Sarma made the appeal stating that TIPRA will not be able to form the government and hence any vote towards them would be wasteful.

Speaking to reporters there, the NEDA convenor said, “What is Tipraland...you have to divide Tripura to get Tipraland.”

CM Sarma also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in talks with the TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma for a possible union. He said that in a series of meetings in Guwahati earlier, the saffron party offered a complete package for the development of Tripura, its languages and the economy of the tribal people.

He said, “BJP is ready for any kind of devolution but do not ask to divide Tripura.”

Meanwhile, CM Sarma also asserted that it was the royal family of the TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma that had created the state of Tripura and further division would be going against that. “Division of Tripura is not acceptable to BJP,” he said.

The Assam CM went on to say that the BJP will rather sit in opposition than see further division of the state. BJP is ready to hold talks to sort out the differences with TIPRA chief if the interest of the tribals is paramount, he added.

“We will sit after the election also and if required even now with TIPRA Motha but one thing that is not possible is a division of Tripura apart from which everything is agreeable,” the convenor of NEDA mentioned.

Although the BJP is confident of winning the elections in the state with a majority, the party will entertain talks with TIPRA only on the condition of an undivided Tripura.

It may be noted that the Assam CM Sarma had earlier said, “TIPRA Motha may win in some seats but they cannot form the government. They are not in Delhi also. Now, what TIPRA Motha is promising to people, how will they work for them if they are nowhere in Tripura or in Centre? Voting for TIPRA Motha or not is the same thing.”