Tripura: BJP manifesto promises greater autonomy for tribal council, financial assistance, meal at Rs 5

In its manifesto, the BJP promised meal for Rs 5 for all under Anukul Chandra scheme

Faced with a possible challenge from Tipra Motha, a regional party demanding a 'Greater Tipraland' state ahead of the Tripura Assembly elections, the ruling BJP's poll manifesto on Thursday promised "greater autonomy" for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Rs. 5,000 every year to the tribals living under the TTAADC, and meals at Rs 5 thrice a day, beside others.

Releasing the manifesto, which BJP called as Sankalp Patra, party chief J P Nadda said here that the BJP would take steps for granting legislative, more executive, and administrative powers to the tribal council with more financial support as per the proposed 185th Constitutional Amendment.

He said BJP would also take steps for inclusion of the Kokborok language (spoken by the tribals) in the CBSE and ICSE curriculum for the state. A university in the name of erstwhile Tripura king Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya for preservation, research and promotion of tribal culture, a skill university for skill development of two lakh tribal youths, and construction of council bhawans in various parts of the country were some of the major promises for the tribals.

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"Our motto will be DTH, which stands for Development, Transformation and Harmony. We will work for development with divinity and prevent division of Tripura and the society," Nadda said in what sounded as a counter to Tipra Motha Chief Pradyot Deb Barma, who has made 'Greater Tipraland' his party's main poll plank with a focus on tribal voters. Motha has put up candidates in 42 out of 60 constituencies.

Motha had rejected BJP's offer for an alliance without a written assurance about Greater Tipraland. BJP said that the party is committed for welfare of the tribals but is against division of Tripura. BJP also faces another challenge from CPI(M) and Congress, who are contesting the elections in a seat sharing arrangement for the first time in Tripura.

Chief Minister Manik Saha, while speaking before Nadda, said BJP would get more seats than 2018 elections as people including the tribals are happy with their development works in the past five years.

BJP manifesto also promised two free LPG cylinders to those possessing PM Ujjwala Yojana connections, free scooty to meritorious college going girls, financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 per year to the fishermen (targeting the SCs), free rice and wheat to all eligible PDS beneficiaries every month and provide edible oil at a subsidised rate, beside others.

CPI(M) and Congress are also against the demand for 'Greater Tipraland' and favours more autonomy to the TTAADC.