Agartala, Feb 13: One party has created quite a buzz ahead of the Tripura assembly elections and the name of this party is Tipra Motha. There was a lot of talk about this party having a meeting with all national parties, but it finally decided to contest alone. What the party represents, not just in the context of Tripura but the Northeast as a whole.

Tipra Motha is the party that campaigns for a separate ‘Greater Tipraland state’ for indigenous people. The party was founded by royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma who was earlier with Congress.

In an exclusive conversation with NorthEast Rising, he asserted, “I am only confident as my people are and my supporters seem to be very confident, people of Tripura seem to be very confident so I get my confidence from the people.”

Raja to Rajneeti- How do you see it?

There is no Raja and I keep on saying I am not doing ‘Rajneeti’, I am doing ‘Kajneeti’. So, the question of Rajneeti does not arise and honesty I think everybody has a duty to work for their people if you want to be called a Raja then Raja only comes with the word ‘Praja’ and if you don’t work for your praja (people) then how will be you called as a Raja? Firstly, I do not accept that there are any Rajas and if you want to say that there is any Raja then his primary duty would be to work for his people.

 

There have been a dozen of tribal parties in past years but did not succeed, how do you see it?

I don’t look down upon other people and what they have done and then make my route. I look at what I can do and I do it that way. I don’t make my way by looking at someone else, I make my own way. In past, many people have failed in journalism, and many tv channels have failed but you are still trying to start something new so one should not look at others’ failures. Even if I lose, I still tried.

 

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Are you open to a post-poll alliance?

Post-poll alliance is only if any party gives it to us in writing if they come about bringing a solution to a constitutional debate.

 

Who do you consider the principal opponent in the state?

I would tell CPI (M) and BJP in many seats. I don’t consider Congress as a political opponent because they are very good parties but they are not on the ground so it’s very unfortunate.

 

How confident are you?

I am only confident as much as my people are and my supporters seem to be very sure, people of Tripura seem to be very satisfied so I get my confidence from the people.

 

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What do you mean by one last fight?

Everybody has a last stand this is our last stand. And why last? Because if you don’t fight like this is your last day then you cannot be able to fight with your passion. We are taking on the biggest parties in the world and we doing pretty well at it. So this is our last stand and last fight for sure.

What will be your message to the people of the state?

Don’t believe in propaganda. Also, try to understand that we are the one’s trying to break Tripura there are people who want to break India through people. We just want to have a clear demarcation of boundaries so that we can set and live on with our lives and these people want to make boundaries between brothers, families, and communities but we are not that sort of people. We want all communities to live together, and all religions to co-exist together and with equal rights, power, and love.