Pradyot Manikya speaking in an exclusive interview to NDTV on polling day
Agartala:
Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, whose party is being touted as the X-factor in this Tripura election, today dismissed claims of BJP’s tacit understanding with the Congress-CPM alliance and said his loyalty lies only with them. with supporters.
In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Mr. Debbarma said that he has old friends across parties, including the Congress, and used to greet them whenever he met them during election meetings.
Asked if such meetings are indicative of any political understanding, as alleged by the BJP, he replied, “I am the king of my world. I don’t want to listen to (BJP chief JP) Nadda ji, I have Not there.” To listen to Soniaji, I have to listen to my inner voice. I am an independent leader of my party. I do not have to follow the diktats of Home Minister or Congress President Kharge ji. I will follow my heart. This is my personal decision. I don’t want to listen to any orders.’
Speaking further on how he maintains good equation with leaders of other parties, irrespective of their political affiliation, he said, “If Shiv Sena can support Pratibha Patil in the presidential election and Mamata Banerjee can support Pranab Mukherjee Why can’t I think that Mr. X is a good person and Mr. Y is not?”
comes against the background of the comment Home Minister Amit Shah’s charge That Tipra Motha has a “secret understanding” with the Congress and the CPM and that voting for the tribal party means voting for the Communists.
Tipra Motha is contesting on 42 out of 60 assembly seats. This includes 20 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. In 2018, the BJP and its ally the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) had won 18 of these 20 seats. Mr. Debbarma, a scion of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, said the BJP had suffered a “tremendous blow” this time.
Asked whether the crowds at his rallies would translate into votes in the ballot, he replied, “If rallies are not a factor, then why is (Prime Minister) Modi ji not holding street meetings?”
Many of the seats Tipra Motha is contesting are outside the tribal belt and rivals have scoffed and predicted a lackluster show. The leader, however, said he was confident of an all-round good show. “Tipra Motha is the most inclusive party. We have given it to tribals, Bengalis, Scheduled Castes, Manipuris.”
Asked whether he fears a counter-polarisation of Bengali votes as his party pushes its demand for statehood for Greater Tipraland, Mr Debbarma said, “I am not against Bengalis. Those who are against Bengalis Yes, he is in the BJP. Their vice-president wanted to deport former chief minister Biplab Deb to Bangladesh. IPFT stands for polarisation.”
Asserting that his family never differentiates between people, he said, “We will always stand for an inclusive society. What we want is a political separation of Tripura so that the autonomous regions (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District) including Bengalis Parishad) Muslims, tea garden workers, Manipuri, let them get their rights.”
Before the elections, Tipra Motha had held discussions with the BJP on forming an alliance, but talks stalled over the demand for a separate state.
Asked which party he would support if the result of the multi-cornered election comes out hung, he said he would not budge from his party’s core demand.
“When it comes to media, I have a very soft corner for NDTV and when it comes to parties, I have a very soft corner for the people who voted for us, who expected us to Will not betray my movement. I will stay only with them and not with any political party. If they give us constitutional solution, we will talk but if they don’t, I will rather betray movement and people Would love to sit in the opposition.”
He said, “My line is Tipra Motha, like NDTV’s line is Vishwas.”
On his mimicry skills, he said, “Mimicry is an art. You watch and then you improvise. I have always had an open heart, I have always met everyone. I am not a typical politician. I think the time has come.” Gone are the days when politicians behave like human beings, common people, instead of sitting in their palaces and thrones.”
He also alleged that a BJP MLA entered a polling booth and tried to snatch voter ID cards. “It is normal, they did it in the Lok Sabha (elections), but I don’t think you can scare 22 lakh people,” he said.
On BJP’s claims of rigging elections during the CPM rule, he said, “That’s why people hated and voted for the BJP. The BJP should have learned that the Left was wiped out because of intimidation. don’t like.” ,