Agartala, January 15:
Amid growing strain within Tripura’s ruling NDA alliance, a delegation of TIPRA Motha MLAs and Members of District Council (MDCs) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) met Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday, pressing two politically sensitive demands that have become flashpoints between alliance partners.
The delegation raised the long-pending demand for adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok and stressed the need to conduct TTAADC elections within the constitutionally mandated timeframe. The meeting was confirmed on Thursday by Rajeshwar Debbarma, former MLA and spokesperson of TIPRA Motha, which controls the TTAADC while remaining a junior partner in the BJP-led government.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala, Debbarma said the meeting took place under the leadership of Rabindra Debbarma, Executive Member (Education) of the TTAADC, after initial reluctance from the government to allow the interaction. He described the discussion as “cordial” but emphasised that the issues raised were non-negotiable for the party.
“We placed our concerns before the Chief Minister. As the head of the state, he is responsible for Tripura’s welfare, and we remain hopeful,” Debbarma said, adding that the party would wait for a formal response rather than claim any assurance.
On the demand for timely elections, Debbarma cited earlier delays in Village Committee polls under the TTAADC, asserting that democratic processes must not be stalled. “Council elections are crucial for development and public interest in tribal areas,” he said.
Rabindra Debbarma stated that the Chief Minister informed the delegation that their letter on the Roman script issue had been forwarded unaltered to CBSE and ICSE, though no response has been received. The delegation was advised to approach the boards directly. He also alleged that the issue was being politicised rather than substantively addressed.
The meeting comes amid escalating BJP–TIPRA Motha tensions, marked by clashes, attacks on offices, and sharp exchanges over Kokborok’s Roman script—a demand pending for decades. With both sides eyeing control of the TTAADC, the episode underscores deepening fault lines within Tripura’s ruling NDA.
