AGARTALA: Losing faith in TIPRA Motha party’s performance in the TTAADC, five senior leaders from the party and its student and youth wings, including Motha’s central committee observer Gurupada Debbarma, crossed over to the ruling BJP on Tuesday ahead of the council elections, bringing with them nearly 275 supporters from 22 villages across various parts of the state.
The joining ceremony was held at the Pradesh BJP Karyalaya in Agartala, where Pradesh general secretary Bipin Debbarma and party Media In-charge Sunit Sarkar were present. Bipin Debbarma formally welcomed the new members by handing them the party flag.
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Among the five leaders who joined are TSF Central Committee member Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, Hezamara Block Committee treasurer of TIPRA Motha Usha Ranjan Debbarma, Mandwi Block Committee secretary of the Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) Udina Rupini, and YTF Mandwi Block Committee secretary also joined.
Addressing a press conference, Bipin Debbarma said the defectors had themselves acknowledged that TIPRA Motha had done nothing during its five years in power at the TTAADC.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Manik Saha, the government is taking this state to the roots of development, and they have also realised that TIPRA Motha has done absolutely nothing in the past five years,” he said.
Speaking specifically about Gurupada, who was the former state president of Tipraland State Party (TSP), now known as TIPRA Motha, Debbarma noted that he had been a close associate of TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and had worked sincerely for the party.
“Given the current state of that organisation and their complete failure to work in the interest of the people, he has been compelled to join our party today,” he added.
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Meanwhile, on the question of seat-sharing with TIPRA Motha for the upcoming TTAADC elections, Debbarma said that although TIPRA Motha’s chief had spoken about the matter, the BJP had not yet taken any decision, as it rests with the party’s top leadership. However, he expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in the council elections, indicating no accommodation for their assembly ally TIPRA Motha.