BJP Ally IPFT Demands Separate ‘Twipraland’

It’s just a couple of days since the BJP-IPFT alliance won a majority in Tripura Assembly elections but already the ticking time bomb of tribal separatism is showing signs of exploding. The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) supremo Naresh Chandra Debbarma reiterated his party’s demand for a separate ‘Twipraland’ soon after election results were announced on 3 March. And then, the next day, he held a press conference in Agartala to demand that the next chief minister of the state should be a tribal.

IPFT has fought for a separate state to be carved out of Tripura for years. It has resorted to often violent agitations and its rhetoric was often directed against Bengalis. It has had links with armed secessionists operating from across the border. Yet, in the run up to the Assembly elections, the BJP openly wooed it and struck an alliance with it.

Last year, in July it held a violent blockade of the sole National Highway that connects Tripura to the rest of the country in support of its separate state demand. Subsequently, IPFT leaders were invited to Delhi where they met with senior government functionaries and Debbarma withdrew the blockade after reported assurances received from Delhi.

This was the sign that BJP, which swears by nationalism and patriotism, had aligned with an outfit that was not only demanding a separate state but had links with anti-national secessionists. By the end of the year, the deal was sealed.

The BJP led Central govt. had assured the IPFT that it would set up a high level committee to look into the issues of tribals. This was even mentioned in the BJP’s manifesto for Tripura elections. IPFT, on its part, interpreted this as an assurance that its demand would be considered after the election.

The whole election campaign of IPFT was run on this demand.

“We have had a single-agenda campaign — the demand for a separate state. Even as part of the government we will continue this demand. As a matter of fact, we will intensify our stir,” Debbarma told The Indian Express soon after the results were declared on 3 March.

On the other hand, BJP ran a campaign in which this goal of its ally was brushed under the carpet. It asserted that it was not in favour of division of the state, knowing fully well that its ally was seeking votes precisely this objective.

Now, that the election is over and the alliance has won – it’s time for payback. The very existence of IPFT depends on keeping on raising and fighting for a separate Twipraland. With its MLAs, and presumably its ministers, sitting in Agartala the outfit is bound to use the new opportunity to up the ante. This will cause a wedge to be driven between the tribal communities and the Bengali populace. It will also give a new opportunity to various secessionist armed groups to become active. Being in power will embolden the separatists to unleash violence against those who are bound to oppose them – mainly the Left in Tripura. Already there are reports of Left workers being attacked.

So – its back again to the dark days of chaos and violence.