Tipra Motha MLA Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, who has been distancing himself from the party for months, has publicly criticised party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya for participating in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a hotel project at the site of Pushpabanta Palace, which had housed Governors for many years. Mr. Debbarma alleged that Mr. Pradyot, who had earlier hit the streets against the State government’s decision to hand over the royal-era summer palace and surrounding land to the Taj Group of Hotels, appeared to have changed his stand by attending the ceremony.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony for the “Taj Pushpabanta Palace” project at Kunjaban was held in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Manik Saha, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya on June 5.

Mr. Debbarma, State Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma, MLA Swapna Debbarma, former TTAADC Executive Member Ananta Debbarma and some other leaders had rebelled against the party ahead of the elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). MLA Swapna Debbarma and Ananta Debbarma later declared their allegiance to party founder Pradyot after making a comeback in the recent TTAADC elections.

Supporters of Minister Animesh Debbarma and MLA Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, however, have continued to remain absent from meetings with Pradyot Kishore Manikya and party programmes. There have been rumours that the two leaders could float a separate political party or join the BJP, though they have remained silent about their future political course.

MLA Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, in a statement posted on social media after the TTAADC elections, expressed his displeasure with Pradyot for what he described as playing politics over the issue of converting Pushpabanta Palace into a hotel. He alleged that the Tipra Motha founder had incited youths against the decision to hand over Pushpabanta Palace and had created public sentiment around the royal-era heritage structure.

Mr. Debbarma questioned whether the Tipra Motha founder had received what he wanted in order to end his protests and attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

There has been no response from Tipra Motha to Chitta Ranjan Debbarma’s statement. Pradyot has also not reacted.