Decode Politics | Key takeaways from ‘historic’ Tripura accord: booster for BJP, breakthrough for TIPRA Motha

The BJP-led Central government on Saturday signed a tripartite agreement with the party-led Tripura government and the state’s main Opposition TIPRA Motha to address the TIPRA’s demands for a “constitutional solution” to the problems that the tribals have been facing for decades in the state.

The agreement comes weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, bringing an end to the fast-unto-death started by TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion-turned-politician Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma from February 27 at Hatai Kotor or Baramura Hills over his demand for a Greater Tipraland state. Pradyot had suspended it Wednesday after receiving a phone call from Delhi inviting him to join talks there for a resolution of the issue.

Pradyot is scheduled to return to Tripura Sunday, when he would go to Hatai Kotor to formally end his hunger strike.

The tripartite accord comes about a year after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Pradyot in Agartala. The BJP’s North-east coordinator Sambit Patra had then told media that Shah had given instructions for the appointment of an interlocutor who would discuss the Motha’s demands, involving other stakeholders too.

The tripartite pact seeks to work out and implement an “honourable solution” to the grievances of the tribal population of Tripura.

The agreement notes that a series of meetings were recently held with The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), popularly known as TIPRA Motha, and other stakeholders, based on which the Centre, the Tripura government and the TIPRA have agreed to “amicably resolve” all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to their history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc.

“It was agreed to constitute