Agartala, April 6 Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma strongly opposed the BJP's promise to rename the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) if voted to power in the upcoming elections.
His remarks came a day after Chief Minister Manik Saha unveiled the party's manifesto for the tribal council polls, promising to rename the TTAADC as the Tripura Autonomous Territorial Council (TATC) if the BJP secures a mandate.
Addressing a gathering at Ampi in Gomati district, Debbarma alleged that the BJP, through its manifesto, vowed to drop the word "Tribal" from the council's name.
"I totally disagree with the promise and will not compromise with the poor Tiprasa people," he said.
Debbarma also criticized the BJP leadership for using the Roman script in its election manifesto.
"You are saying the BJP government will not introduce the Roman script for the Kokborok language, citing its foreign origin. Now, your manifesto is written in Roman script. We know there is a vast difference between your statements and actions," he said, apparently referring to the chief minister's stand on the issue.
The BJP currently shares power in the state with TMP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), though all three parties are contesting the council polls separately.
Asserting that the elections would be a contest between the BJP's "money power" and the Tiprasa people, Debbarma urged voters to support the "dofa" (community) rather than any particular party.
He claimed that the Tiprasa population has dwindled to around 15 lakh out of the state's total population of 42 lakh.
"The Tiprasa community will face an existential crisis if the dofa (community) suffers defeat in the tribal council elections. We all should support the dofa," he said.
Voting for the 28-seat tribal council is scheduled for April 12, and counting will take place on April 17.