Agartala: Putting all speculations to rest, TIPRA Motha, the principal opposition force in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, has decided to lend its support to the incumbent government led by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.
The crucial political development came close on the heels of a tripartite agreement signed between the Government of India, the Tripura Government, and TIPRA.
On being contacted, Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma tried to avoid making any statement, stating that it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister and his party’s supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.
“I haven’t received any official intimation. And, neither I am authorised to make any statement on such a big issue. These are policy-level decisions taken by the party high command and since Maharaja (Pradyot) is not here in Tripura, we don’t know what transpired between him and the BJP top brass,” Debbarma said.
On being asked when the swearing-in ceremony could take place, Debbarma said, “Nothing is going to happen in the absence of Maharaja. In his absence, we are not willing to take any calls.”
Sources said two TIPRA legislators would be inducted into the state cabinet. Current Leader of Opposition Animesh Debbarma and MLA Brishaketu Debbarma is, reportedly, the choices made for ministerial berths.
A BJP MLA might also get a cabinet berth to complete the full cabinet led by Dr Saha. There are 12 cabinet berths, of which only nine were appointed after the 2023 assembly polls.
With TIPRA’s support, the total strength of the ruling combination would cross the two-thirds majority of the sixty-member house. Right now BJP has 33 MLAs and TIPRA Motha has 13 MLAs in total. The strengths of CPIM and Congress are 10 and 3 respectively. One constituency is lying vacant because of the death of veteran BJP MLA Surajit Datta.
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