TUJS, IPFT to merge on Feb 7

AGARTALA, Jan 20 — In a significant development in Tripura politics, two powerful tribal parties of the state, Tripura Upajati Juba Samity and Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, are likely to announce their formal merger on February 7 next, according to sources. The two tribal parties were discussing the modalities and the name of the new proposed party for the last several months. According to sources, the TUJS highest body members of central committee would be meeting on February 2 or February 3 at Tulshibati School. In all likelihood the TUJS would dissolve itself on the same day ending an era of tribal politics spanning more than 35 years. The IPFT central executive committee is also scheduled to meet on February 4 or February 5 and dissolve itself. On February 7 both the parties would announce the emergence of the new tribal party. It is learnt that both the parties could settle the difference of opinion over the nomenclature of the new tribal party which remained as the major bone of contention. In all possibility the new party will be named “Indigenous National Party of Twipra.” Formed in 1967, during the 35 years the TUJS despite its internal strife and subsequent desertion of some of the top leaders, turned out to be the most powerful democratic tribal party which could pose a serious challenge to the traditional Marxist base in the hills. It not only changed political equations in the state time and again, but also formed coalition ministry with the Congress. But for the last four years or so TUJS was dogged by a serious crisis as a breakaway group Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura emerged as the main contender in the anti-Left tribal politics, allegedly with the help of outlawed NLFT. The IPFT not only routed the Left Front from the traditional red bastion in the tribal-dominated areas and then in the ADC, but also engineered steady erosion of TUJS base. It bit off the TUJS stronghold with political activities while the NLFT kept on exerting pressure on it to forge a single broad-based tribal party. The TUJS could not sustain the two-pronged pressure and ultimately decided to merge with the IPFT and float a new party. The emergence of a broad platform of the new tribal party is considered to be a significant development in Tripura politics. It would then not only be a formidable force to contest the Left Front but also will be in a position to dictate the realignment with non-Left parties in the state politics in a decisive way. As far as ADC encompassing about 70 per cent of total land and about 20 Assembly segments, the new tribal party will be able to call the shots.