Tipra Motha Party Explained

Party Name:Tipra Motha Party
Logo Upright:0.8
Abbreviation:TIPRA / TMP
Leader:Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma
President:Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl
Foundation:2019
Founder:Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma[1]
Headquarters:Manikya Dynasty Heritage Residential House,
Ujjayanta Palace,
Palace Compound,
Agartala, Tripura
799001
Students:Tipra Indigenous Students Federation
Youth:Youth Tipra Federation
Women:Tipra Women Federation
Ideology:Tripuri nationalism[2]
Ultranationalism
Tipraland independence[3] [4]
Regionalism
Separatism
Right-wing populism
Anti-immigration
Anti-Bengali sentiment
Eci:State Party (Tripura)[5]
Alliance:NDA (2024-Present)
NEDA (2024-Present)
State2 Seats Name:Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council
Flag:Unofficial flag of Tripura.png
Spokesman:Anthony Debbarma

The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), also known as the Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance, is a regional political party and previously a social organisation in Tripura, India.[6] [7] The TIPRA is led by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma.[8] [9] It is currently the second largest party in Tripura Legislative Assembly.[10]

History

On 25 Feb 2019, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma was appointed the President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee.[11] [12] Within a few months, Deb Barma resigned from the Pradesh Congress President post, accusing the Congress high command of pressuring him to accommodate 'corrupt people'.[13] Almost three months later, he formed a social organisation to work for the rights of the indigenous people.[14]

On 5 February 2021, Deb Barma announced that his organisation had become a political party and would contest the 2021 Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council election.[15] [16]

The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), Tipraland State Party (TSP) and IPFT (Tipraha) merged with the TIPRA in 2021.[17] [18] [19] [20]

TIPRA Motha contested the 2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly Election fielding over 42 candidates in different constituencies. The party won 13 seats and became the first regional party in Tripura to become the main opposition.[21]

In March 2024, Tipra Motha joined Manik Saha-led Tripura government and Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, took the oath as ministers and Minister of State.[22] [23]

Ideological positions

TIPRA's main objective is the creation of a new state called 'Greater Tipraland' under the Article 2 & 3 of the Constitution of India.[24] [15] [25] [26] The Motha emphasises Tipra nationalism, using the slogans "Puila Jati, Ulobo Jati" and "Puila Jati, Ulo Party" (Community first, party later).[27] It aims to first empower and emancipate the Tiprasa people before anything else. The party sees its activities as peoples' movement rather than a political one.[28]

In 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Tipra Motha of being allied with Congress and the CPI (M).[29] This was denied by Deb Barma, who claimed he could not be a communist ally due to his royal ancestry, being the son of the last King of Tripura.

List of Ministers

Cabinet Minister

Minister of State(MoS)

Elected Representatives

List of Leader of Opposition

List of Members of Legislative Assembly

YearAssemblyPortraitMLAConstituency
13th Tripura Assembly1.Animesh Debbarma
2.Brishaketu Debbarma
3.Swapna Debbarma
4.Biswajit Kalai
5.Ranjit Debbarma
6.Philip Kumar Reang
7.Manav Debbarma
8.Subodh Deb Barma
9.Pathan Lal JamatiaAmpinagar
10.Sanjoy Manik Tripura
11.Nandita Debbarma (Reang)
12.Chitta Ranjan Debbarma
13.Paul DangshuKaramcherra

Electoral history

TIPRA secured a majority in the 28-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections along with its ally the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT). TIPRA won 16 seats while the INPT won two seats.[31]

The result not only ended the Left Front’s 15-year rule of the council but also became the only regional party to come into power in the council without an alliance with a national party.[32] Deb Barma reaffirmed his earlier claim that the demand for Greater Tipraland would not be compromised at any cost and issued a stern call for victory in 2023. A massive gathering of thousands of indigenous people who travelled from all over the state to the Swami Vivekananda Stadium (Astabal Ground) complemented the term "Thansa." "Bubagra is not looking to argue. We abhor all forms of violence. We never oppose any group or faith. Our movement is to demand the rights that the Indian Constitution grants us, and we will succeed in our objectives, he continued.[33] [34] [35]

Legislative Assembly elections

Key Leaders

MemberPortraitCurrent/ Previous Position Party Position
Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma Chairman
Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl National President, Central Working Committee and Politburo Member
Animesh Debbarma
  • Cabinet Minister of Tripura Government (7 March, 2024-present)
  • Leader of the Opposition - Tripura Legislative Assembly (2023 - 2024)
  • Former Deputy CEM of TTAADC (2021 - 2023)
  • Executive Member-Industries, Cooperative, Agriculture, and Tribal Welfare (2021-2023)
  • Former MLA, Kalyanpur-Pramodenagar Assembly constituency (2003 - 2008)
Central Working Committee and Politburo Member
Jagadish Debbarma
  • Chairman (Speaker)-Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (2021- Present)
  • MLA- Mandwi Bazar, (1988-1993)
Central Working Committee Member and Elected Representative
Purna Chandra Jamatia
  • Chief Executive Member (CEM)- Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (2021- Present)
  • MDC Killa-Bagma (2021 - Present)
Central Working Committee and Elected Representative Member
Brishaketu Debbarma
  • Minister of State (MoS) for Industries and Commerce, Tripura Government (7 March 2024- present)
  • Deputy Leader of Opposition - Tripura Legislative Assembly (2023 - 2024)
  • MLA - Simna (2018 - Present)
  • Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee (2023 - present)
General Secretary (I/C), Organisation, Central Working Committee and Politburo Member
Rajeshwar Debbarma
  • Member of Tripura Legislative Assembly, (2008 - 2014)
National Political Secretary and Politburo Member
Mevar Kumar Jamatia
  • Minister of Tribal Welfare, Industries and Commerce, and Fisheries (2018-2022)
  • MLA, Ashrambari (2018-2023)
Central Working Committee Member
Bhaba Ranjan Reang Central Working Committee Member

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ali . Syed Sajjad . IPFT puts pet Tipraland demand on the backburner . 29 March 2021 . The Hindu . 29 March 2021 . en-IN.
  2. Web site: Colney. Kimi. "We want self-rule": Pradyot Debbarma on his party's victory in Tripura tribal council polls. 2021-08-28. The Caravan. en.
  3. Web site: Colney. Kimi. "We want self-rule": Pradyot Debbarma on his party's victory in Tripura tribal council polls. 2021-08-28. The Caravan. en.
  4. Web site: 2020-01-12. Tripura: Former Congress state president calls for ethnic unity during anti-CAA protest. 2021-08-28. The Indian Express. en.
  5. Web site: Recognition of Tipra Motha Party,as a State Party in Tripura . 10 April 2023 .
  6. Web site: Tipra wins Tripura council polls. 2021-04-18. The Telegraph (India).
  7. News: Deb . Debraj . Tripura: 2 tribal parties merge with Pradyot-led front . 29 March 2021 . The Indian Express . 20 February 2021 . en.
  8. News: Tripura Royal scion launches 'apolitical' outfit to protect tribal rights . 1 June 2020 . The Telegraph (India) . en.
  9. News: Deb Barman . Priyanka . Tripura royal scion forges alliance with indigenous parties to work on NRC, CAA, empowerment . 29 March 2021 . Hindustan Times . 4 October 2020 . en.
  10. Web site: BJP+ retains power, Tipra Motha 2nd largest. 2 March 2023 .
  11. News: Deb . Debraj . Tripura royal scion Pradyot Debburman appointed Pradesh Congress president . 1 June 2020 . . 26 February 2019 . en.
  12. News: Royal scion Pradyot Manikya appointed Tripura Congress president . 1 June 2020 . NORTHEAST NOW.
  13. News: Tripura Congress chief resigns, accuses party of asking him to accommodate 'corrupt people' . 1 June 2020 . The Telegraph (India) . en.
  14. News: Deb Barman . Priyanka . Tripura's royal scion forms apolitical front to fight for indigenous people . 1 June 2020 . . 26 December 2019 . en.
  15. News: Chakraborty . Tanmoy . With a Call for 'Greater Tipraland', Tripura Royal Scion's Party to Fight District Polls . 29 March 2021 . The Wire.
  16. News: Bhattacharjee . Biswendu . Will contest upcoming ADC election: Pradyot Agartala News - Times of India . 29 March 2021 . The Times of India . en.
  17. Web site: INPT merged with TIPRA Motha, Bijay Hrangkhal TIPRA Motha new President . tripurainfo.com.
  18. Web site: Tripura: INPT announces merger with TIPRA . Assam Tribune. 7 May 2021 .
  19. Web site: Tripura: INPT merges with Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman's TIPRA . Zee News.
  20. Web site: Dramatic political twists in Tripura ahead of ADC polls . Northeast Today. 2 March 2021 .
  21. Web site: Tipra Motha, the 2-year-old party that won 13 seats in Tripura . 2023-05-19 . India Today . 2 March 2023 . en.
  22. Web site: Tipra Motha joins BJP-led Tripura government, two ministers take oath . 2024-03-09 . India Today NE . 7 March 2024 . en.
  23. News: Tripura portfolio allocation: Animesh gets Science & Tech, Forest & Environ, Brishaketu is MoS Commerce & Ind . Northeast Live . 16 March 2024.
  24. News: Deb . Debraj . Explained: What is the Greater Tipraland demand raised by royal scion Pradyot Kishore? . 29 March 2021 . The Indian Express . 23 February 2021 . en.
  25. News: Tripura's TIPRA holds mass gathering, demands 'Greater Tipraland' . 29 March 2021 . aninews.in . en.
  26. News: Tripura royal scion breaks down in tears during public address over non-participation of IPFT in 'Greater Tipraland' english.lokmat.com . 29 March 2021 . Lokmat English . 6 March 2021 . en.
  27. Web site: 2020-01-12. Tripura: Former Congress state president calls for ethnic unity during anti-CAA protest. 2021-08-28. The Indian Express. en.
  28. Web site: Tripura: TSF joins 'Greater Tipraland' movement. 8 August 2021 . 2021-08-28. en-US.
  29. News: Deb Barman. Priyanka. 7 February 2023. Tripura elections: TIPRA Motha in 'secret' alliance with Left, Congress, says Shah. . 9 February 2023.
  30. Web site: Karmakar . Sumir . BJP-Tipra Motha names Pradyot Deb Barma's sister Kriti Singh Deb Barma as candidate for LS polls . 2024-07-31 . Deccan Herald . en.
  31. News: Ali. Syed Sajjad. 10 April 2021. Big win for TIPRA in Tripura ADC election. The Hindu. 12 April 2021.
  32. News: Umanand. Jaiswal. 11 April 2021. Tipra wins Tripura council polls. The Telegraph. 12 April 2021.
  33. Web site: "Mega gathering" of TIPRA Motha in Agartala, Pradyot calls for victory in 2023 . 2022-11-12 . tripuratimes.com . en.
  34. Web site: 2022-11-12 . Tripura: No more compromise with indigenous people, TIPRA Motha chief sounds poll bugle in mass gathering . 2022-11-12 . India Today NE . hi.
  35. Web site: 2022-11-12 . One Last Fight For 'Greater Tipraland' Demand In 2023 Assembly Polls; No Compromise For Tiprasa Communities: TIPRA Motha Chairman . 2022-11-12 . Northeast Today . en-US.