Agartala, March 16:Amid concerns raised by its ally Tipra Motha over the underdevelopment of Tripura’s indigenous population, the ruling BJP has asserted that significant progress has been made in tribal areas under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and since BJP came to power in Tripura in 2018.
BJP state president and MP Rajib Bhattacharjee made this claim on Sunday while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of ‘Empowering Janajati, Empowering Tripura’, a programme aimed at disseminating information about various government initiatives for tribal development.
The event, held at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala, saw the participation of a large number of leaders from the BJP’s tribal wing, Janajati Morcha. Political observers see it as a strategic move ahead of the long-overdue Village Committee elections of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
Bhattacharjee stated that both the central and state governments have prioritized tribal development by identifying tribal-dominated areas as aspirational districts and blocks, providing special packages and funding.
He highlighted initiatives in education, healthcare, financial assistance, connectivity, housing, free ration, drinking water, and employment opportunities.
When asked whether the BJP would contest the Village Committee elections in alliance with its partners IPFT and Tipra Motha, Bhattacharjee affirmed that the BJP values its alliances and aims to contest the polls unitedly, continuing the coalition tradition set by the NDA since the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and still continuing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His remarks come amid repeated expressions of dissatisfaction from Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma over the slow pace of development in tribal areas, delays in the Village Committee elections, and the implementation of the Tipra Accord.
