Political sparks fly as Tripura Royals take on BJP in electoral battle

Guwahati:

The move sparked a political storm in Tripura, with former royal scion and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma being nominated candidate for the East Tripura constituency reserved for the party. The decision sparked a controversy, with accusations of dynastic politics and opportunism flying.

Kriti Singh, 52, is the sister of Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Debbarma, a prominent figure in Tripura politics. Ahead of her candidacy, the Narendra Modi government, the Tripura government and Tipla Motta signed a tripartite agreement aimed at resolving the issues of the indigenous people in the state.

Many believe that offering poll tickets to the royal family is a strategic ploy by the BJP, especially given Deepra Motta’s recent alliance with the ruling party. Kriti Singh currently resides in Chhattisgarh, where she is married to another royal family. She bagged the ticket in place of sitting BJP MP Rebati Tripura.

Critics immediately lambasted the decision, calling it a betrayal of tribal interests and a blatant display of dynastic politics. Tripura CPI(M) general secretary Jitendra Chaudhury condemned the move as a “betrayal” of tribal rights and pointed out that there were other potential candidates with deep roots in the state.

The opposition, consisting of the Congress and the Left, claimed that the alliance between the BJP and Deepra Motta was evil and opportunistic. Congress MP Sudip Roy Barman called for a boycott of the alliance citing doubts over Kriti Singh’s commitment to the country.

However, the state unit of the BJP strongly defended the decision, claiming that Kriti Singh brings valuable political experience. Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee stressed that the central leadership carefully considered the needs of tribal areas before finalizing the list of candidates.

Amid the intense controversy, Pradiot de Bama reiterated the importance of the recent agreement and the need for representation to ensure its effective implementation.

The candidature of a member of the Tripura royal family has injected a potent mix of intrigue and drama into the state’s political landscape, heralding a close contest in the Lok Sabha elections.