Agartala, September 20: TIPRA Motha supremo and royal scion of Tripura Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Sunday hinted at reducing his active political engagement after the upcoming village council elections, said to earn money he did not join politics as it was not the only medium to serve people and he wanted to devote more time to representing their voices and rights.
Debbarma, who returned to Tripura earlier in the day, said he was not leaving the state but wanted to “do less politics” and work more closely with people. The Motha supremo hinted that he would make an announcement about his future political role after the village council elections.
“I am not leaving Tripura, but I want to do less politics and represent the voice of the people in a better way. Politics is not the only medium. There are other mediums also,” Debbarma told reporters after attending the GenZ Meet 2.0 at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Town Hall here.
He expressed his annoyance over a section of his leadership engaged with corruption and which is also defaming his reputation.
Debbarma said he had entered politics to secure rights for his people and not for personal financial gain, but added that every issue could not be resolved through politics.
“Rights and accords are a different matter, politics is a different matter. When I entered politics, I did not come to make money. I came to give rights to my people,” he said.
Debbarma’s comments come at a politically significant juncture in Tripura, with the BJP, TIPRA Motha and IPFT having announced an alliance to contest the September 28 village council elections together as NDA partners. However, reports of clashes and violence from some areas have emerged despite the alliance understanding.
The TIPRA Motha chief strongly opposed violence and said police should take strict action against anyone involved, irrespective of political affiliation.
“Violence never gives a solution to any problem. Wherever violence takes place, the police should take the strictest possible action,” he said.
In a significant assertion of accountability, Debbarma said he would not support or sympathise with members of his own party if they were found involved in violence.
“If my people, if members of my party, have done something wrong, there is no sympathy or support from my side,” he said.
He said violence should not be viewed only as an issue between the BJP and TIPRA Motha and called for the same approach in incidents involving the CPI(M), Congress or IPFT.
“I don’t think there should be violence—not only BJP and Motha, but CPM, IPFT, Congress also. Violence is not good for the state,” he said.
Debbarma also said the village council election involved around 4,500 seats and that clashes had taken place only in a few locations, while the election process was peaceful in the overwhelming majority of areas.
He said the current electoral environment was comparatively much more peaceful than in the past including the just happened TTAADC election and disclosed that he is in constant contact with senior political leaders of the BJP.
“I coordinate with the Chief Minister every day. I have spoken to Pratima Bhoumik, I am speaking to Biplab Deb, and even today my party is having a meeting with Ratan Lal Nath,” he said.
At the youth-focused event, Debbarma also stressed the need for greater engagement with young people. He said India’s large young population could not be ignored and their voices needed to be heard in shaping the country’s future.
His remarks on doing less politics and pursuing other avenues of public service could mark a significant shift in the political role of one of the most prominent leaders of indigenous politics in Tripura.
