Agartala: It is quite interesting in Tripura as how the incumbent BJP-IPFT ally would land the drive of capturing power in Tripura Tribal Area District Council or ADC in short which is scheduled to collect public opinion through EVMs on 06th of April next.
In the history of ADC in Tripura, since it’s beginning way back in 1982 in January, the autonomous body experienced leftist domination without much effort from the opposition. It is an irony that, after long demands and movements from the indigenous people of the state, it was the Congress government in Delhi that enacted the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Act 1979 and later brought the ADC under the purview of the 6th Schedule of the Indian constitution through 49th Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1984 with effect from 1st of January, 1985.
But Congress in the state could never be able to even mark any significant presence in ADC. Moreover, the anti-left votes were always scattered in time of elections in ADC and gradually the leftist domination increased in the hilly tribal areas. It is a different matter whether the life and lifestyle diverted towards the development of the people in those years and whether the leftist succeeded to keep with their promises and assurances with the inhabitants.
But it is a fact that the leftist dominance continued to increase despite the fact of increasing scarcity of potable water, lack of employment, deteriorating conditions of health and education, poor connectivity and many other factors which must be a different saga.
In this pretext, the BJP-IPFT ally after much drama set their candidates for all 28 seats. The hope for them is the underdevelopment, deprivation and poverty in ADC areas. But their dilemma is the non-fulfilment of their promises made before the assembly election of 2018, the increasing trend of outsourcing and privatization and the indulgence of a section of grass-root leaders into rampant corruption.
Besides, the open fight among the allies also created a ruckus and the independent candidates in the fray from BJP in different seats added to the chaos.
This time Tripura witnessed the upsurge of a new political entity Tipra-Motha of royal scion Pradyut Kishore Devvarman. The royal scion created enough fascination among the tribal youths and once IPFT allied with his party along with other regional party INPT. But within a week, IPFT detached itself from the alliance and declared its alliance with BJP. Now, the royal scion’s party with its call for setting up a Greater Tipraland has been able to gather a considerable influence on rank and file.
Hence, the fight this time is rectangular and tough posing a great and unprecedented challenge to each party. Now, the result is also hoped to be interesting enough to mould the future course of politics in the state especially in connection with the next assembly election of 2023.
