Putting speculations to rest, at least for now, Tripura’s dominant tribal platform, TIPRA Motha, has conveyed that it would not be a part of chief minister Manik Saha’s cabinet but could provide “issue-based support” to the BJP in the state till an “honorable Constitutional solution” to issues concerning the state’s tribal population is reached with the Centre.

The Motha would also welcome A.K Mishra, former special director of the Intelligence Bureau and the interlocutor for the Naga peace talks, as the possible interlocutor for the Centre to discuss and negotiate the demands of the Motha-led indigenous Tripuri people.

The demand for the separate state of Greater Tipraland, which the party seems to have moved away from in the recent past, is off the negotiation table though, sources in the party confirmed.

The declarations were made by Motha chief Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, scion of the erstwhile Tripura royal family, in the wake of his meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and other senior BJP leaders including party president JP Nadda, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his newly-crowned Tripura counterpart Dr Manik Saha at the state guest house in Agartala on Wednesday.

“We are hearing that the Centre is likely to appoint A.K. Mishra as the interlocutor. We have no objections to having him since he already has the necessary experience in dealing with issues of the North East. He has negotiated with the different NSCN factions for the Naga peace talks and was also instrumental in drawing up the Bru Accord for rehabilitation of Mizoram’s Bru migrants in Tripura of which I was a part. It has been mutually agreed at our meeting with the BJP top brass that talks will have to be concluded and a solution would have to be offered within three months,” Debbarma told The Telegraph Online.

“Let the Centre first satisfy the indigenous people of Tripura. Only then will I talk more in terms of accepting positions in government or rejecting it. I could have gone into a pre-poll or a post-poll alliance with the BJP. I chose not to opt for either of the two. The people’s issues will have to be addressed first in the form of an honourable Constitutional solution. We can look at providing issue-based support to the state government till the time our issues are addressed,” the Motha chief added.

The BJP regained power in the 60-member state Assembly with a short majority of 32 seats while losing nearly 4 per cent of its vote share compared to the 2018 state polls. Its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), managed to add only one seat to that count. On Wednesday Manik Saha was sworn in as chief minister for the second time in 10 months at a low-key oath-taking ceremony in Agartala which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- he did not address the gate bring --- and other senior party leaders. Eight ministers also took their oath but Saha, significantly, left three cabinet berths vacant including that of the deputy chief minister.

Securing 20 per cent of all votes polled, the Motha won 13 of the 20 seats reserved for tribals in its first ever contest in state polls. The Left-Congress combine, with a vote share of 33 per cent, secured 14 seats.

The too-close-to-comfort edge in government, its ally losing most of its tribal votes and a strong standing Opposition is what brought the BJP to the talks table with the Motha and even keep some cabinet positions vacant for the time being.

“We have emerged as the largest regional party Tripura has ever seen and the second largest party of the state. We have won these seats without getting into any political alliance. We are not here to make business out of politics. The pending issues must be resolved at the talks table first before we make any political commitments,” Debbarma said. Asked what those issues would be, he clarified: “We are looking for permanent solutions to land rights for the tribal people. They must have economic rights, social rights, revenue rights and access to direct funding. Our representation in the overall political arena must be guaranteed.”

The BJP’s state leadership, however, refrained from making remarks about keeping its options open for the Motha. “These matters are beyond our domain. They are being looked into by our party’s central leadership. I don’t have a comment to make,” said Papia Dutta, senior leader. Asked about the vacant cabinet berths, she said: “These positions would be filled up in due time. Our chief minister will decide when.”