AGARTALA, June 11: A fresh move has been launched to unite all tribal political parties in Tripura under a common umbrella. Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS), the only recognised tribal party of Tripura has responded to the move and has appealed other tribal parties to join a common platform. The present move is considered as a significant development in view of new equation in tribal politics with the emergence of IPFT with the alleged backing of outlawed NLFT. The IPFT registered an overwhelming victory in recent elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas District Council (TTAADC). Rabindra Debbarma TUJS general secretary and MLA urged the All Tribal base political parties and organisations to share a joint platform for the sake of tribal interest. According to him, a fractured tribal politics is not desirable as it creates serious complications. Informed sources however said the TUJS has been under tremendous pressure as far as its existence is concerned. Fast spreading influence of IPFT has jolted the party which had secured four seats in sixty member Assembly in the last elections held in 1998. Amid wide spread speculation on TUJS's future position in the view of presence of the IPFT with strong NLFT backing, new developments are taking place. Former rebel group turned political party TNV has decided to merge with IPFT.The former merger is all set to take place on June 13 next. Mentionably, TNV president Bijay Kumar Hrangkhanl was elected in last Assembly polls. With formal merger of TNV with IPFT, TUJS will be the only tribal party which will have two options before it. First follow the suit of TNV and second, remain with separate identity. But possibility of merger is also not in sight as most of TUJS leaders do not want to join IPFT in its present form. (Correspondent; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; June 12, 2000)

AGARTALA, June 12:. Former guerrilla outfit turned political party Tripura National Volunteers (TNV) is all set to merge with the IPFT on Tuesday. This was announced by TNV chief Bijay Kumar Hrangkhawl on Sunday from Ambasa his home town in Dhalai district. The formal merger will take place at a ceremony at Khumlung , near Agartala and headquarters of TTADC. Hrangkhawl said that the executive body of his party took the merger decision on its own and there has been no pressure for any source. He said the need for a united fight to protect rights of the indigenous people prompted TNV to take the significant decision. He stated that TNV has been supporting the IPFT since its formation and worked for it in recently held elections to the TTAADC. When asked about his would be position in the IPFT, he refused to reply. Hrangkhawl claimed that he was one of the architects to float the IPFT in the middle of 1997. In a significant development, the TNV also snapped ties with the Opposition Congress. Following a tripartite accord between the Centre, Tripura government and the TNV on August 12, 1988 at the instance of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, over 450 underground militants belonging to the TNV came overground. The state government implemented the TNV accord to rehabilitate the TNV cadres. The TNV chief said his party had also supported the IPFT in the recent TTAADC election. The IPFT wrested the TTAADC by winning 18 of the 28 elective (two seats were nominated by the governor) seats defeating the CPI(M) led Left Front, which secured ten seats. The IPFT was formed in 1997 by the breakaway faction of the TUJS. The ruling CPI(M) alleged that the IPFT forcefully captured power of the TTAADC with the help of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura. In view of the insurgency, the tribals could not come to the towns and markets while businessmen failed to enter into the tribals areas, causing an unprecedented crisis of food and essential commodities. Meanwhile, TNV president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl had alleged that the insurgency situation in the state had worsened owing to the wrong policy pursued by the Left Front government. (Correspondent; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; June 13, 2000)

AGARTALA, June 13: The Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), a former militant outfit-turned-tribal-based party, on Tuesday merged with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), which recently wrested the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front. The merger of the two tribal-based parties was formally held on Tuesday at the TTAADC headquarters at Khumulung in West Tripura. A function was held in this connection where senior leaders of the two parties were present. IPFT general secretary and chief executive member of the TTAADC told newsmen that according to the IPFT constitution, some important posts would be given to the TNV leaders, including party president Bijoy Kumar Hranghawl, also a former underground militant leader and member of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. About the Tripura Upajati Juba Samity's proposal to bring all the tribal parties on a common platform for the greater interest of the tribals in the state, chief executive member of the TTAADC Debabrata Koloi said the IPFT would not enter into alliance with any party. TNV supremo Hranghawl said his party had merged with the IPFT to strengthen the movement to protect the interest of the tribals. The TNV merged with the IPFT unconditionally, he added saying the TNV recently snapped ties with the Congress. The TNV had also supported the IPFT in the recent TTAADC elections. The IPFT wrested the TTAADC by winning 18 of the 28 elective seats (two seats of the 30-member- Council were nominated by the Governor). (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 14, 2000)