Seat sharing, an issue in regional alliance !Animesh joins TIPRA, INPT left in lurch
From the Webdesk, 20/02/2021, Agartala
The regional alliance between the indigenous political parties seems to have started facing troubles as political arrangements between parties are taking new twists with every passing hour. Being the latest, former MLA Animesh Debbarma, who earlier merged his political party NCT into INPT, had officially switched over to Pradyot Kishore Debbarman’s TIPRA. Debbarma along with hundreds of his followers joined the newly formed party with a unanimous motive of Greater Tipraland. Pradyot welcomed the newcomers and observed that his call for unity is really fetching results for regional politics.
Amid all these high-pitched political developments, one political party that has emerged as the party bearing the highest loss would definitely be INPT (Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra), perhaps the oldest regional political party. INPT from the beginning maintained a tough stand against the IPFT’s call of Tipraland.
The party was also the first political outfit that had responded to the call of “Thansa (Unit)” given by Pradyot Kishore Debbarman. But, as IPFT, which comparatively has a robust presence in the hills, hatched an alliance with TIPRA, there was every reason for the INPT to worry about its status in the regional alliance.
INPT supremo BK Hrangkhwal and Jagadish Debbarma wasted no time and met TIPRA chairman Pradyot Kishore Debbarman on Friday night hours after the alliance between IPFT and TIPRA was finalized. The INPT changed its stand and extended support towards the demand of Tipraland but unfortunately, nothing could be finalized.
Their presence in the greater alliance in making was still uncertain and Pradyot made it clear that without consultation with the IPFT supremo NC Debbarma, INPT could not positioned in the alliance which indicated that in the new political equation INPT was the only party to be neglected.
TIPRA Chairman Pradyot while speaking on the issue said, “INPT leaders have come over here to discuss. Earlier, they have never supported the demand of Tipraland but now they have extended their support towards the demand. When they have raised the alliance issue, I have clearly said that I am already in an alliance with IPFT and there must be a talk in presence of NC Debbarma. I have told them, this alliance is bigger than that of seats and people want to see BK Hranghkhwal, NC Debbarma and Pradyot in the same stage”.
Earlier, INPT leader Pradyot made a statement in which they said that they had no formal objection to the demand of greater Tipraland. Now, the question arises, if INPT is not given the due importance and handled with prudence in the alliance, the split may come henceforth anytime.