Agartala, August 25:
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday acknowledged differences between the BJP and its NDA ally Tipra Motha but indicated that the two parties would ultimately arrive at a “unanimous conclusion”, fuelling expectations of a possible understanding ahead of the forthcoming TTAADC village council elections.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme for distribution of appointment offers to doctors at Pragya Bhavan, Saha said political alliances, like any relationship, could have differences over demands and priorities, but these would eventually be resolved through discussions.
“At home, you see there are always some problems. So we are partners in politics. Sometimes they want something, we don’t want something. Ultimately, we will come to a conclusion. A unanimous conclusion will be there, and we will inform you,” the Chief Minister said.
His remarks assume political significance amid growing differences between the BJP and Tipra Motha over the implementation of the March 2024 Tripartite Agreement involving the Centre, the Tripura government and the Tipra Motha party.
Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma has repeatedly criticised the delay in implementing the agreement and has maintained pressure on the BJP-led government to fulfil the commitments made under it. The issue has emerged as one of the principal points of friction between the two alliance partners.
Asked why the Tripartite Agreement, which was signed on a common agreements, was taking so much time to implement, Saha said it “should be done”, but suggested that the demands and the manner in which Tipra Motha wants them implemented may not be acceptable in their entirety.
“It should be done, because the way these people want it, it may not be sorted out in that manner. Ultimately the time will come that they also will agree,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s formulation appeared to leave room for negotiations over the terms and manner of implementation rather than indicating acceptance of Tipra Motha’s position in full. His remarks also suggested that the two sides could reach an accommodation after discussions and negotiations on the contentious issues.
On the emerging political situation ahead of the village council elections, Saha did not announce a formal electoral arrangement, but his assurance that the alliance partners would arrive at a common conclusion is being viewed against the backdrop of continuing discussions between the BJP and Tipra Motha.
The Chief Minister also used the occasion to mount a broader political attack on the previous CPI(M)-led Left Front government, contrasting its record with that of the BJP-led government.
Responding to criticism over Tripura’s development, Saha said visitors arriving in the state could themselves see the changes taking place. He claimed that the state had undergone substantial transformation and that development was now visible across sectors.
“Every day you are seeing how appointments are taking place and, side by side, we are creating employability here,” Saha said, stressing that employment generation remained a major focus of his government.
He claimed that the present government was working extensively in the areas of employment, healthcare and education and said the state’s development trajectory was fundamentally different from the past.
Taking a swipe at the previous government, Saha said development had not received the same emphasis earlier and also referred to the political environment during the Left Front’s tenure.
“We are people who work. We have come out to work for the state and the country. Therefore, our style of working is different. The way the Hon’ble Prime Minister works, we also work,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come at a politically sensitive juncture in Tripura, with the BJP seeking to maintain its alliance with Tipra Motha while the regional party continues to press for implementation of commitments relating to the state’s indigenous population.
With the village council elections approaching, the ability of the two NDA partners to bridge their differences over the Tripartite Agreement and settle an electoral understanding could have significant implications for the political contest in the tribal areas.
For the moment, Saha’s message was one of negotiation rather than confrontation: the differences between the BJP and Tipra Motha are real, but the Chief Minister remains confident that the partners will eventually reach a common position.
