By Debalin Roy, Piyush Nagpal, & Ekta Handa
Ahead of the assembly elections in Left Front-ruled Tripura next year, two main tribal-based parties have launched an agitation against the central government’s Citizenship Bill, among other issues. On March 6, 2017, they began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar demanding a separate state for themselves called Tipraland.
Tribal populations play a crucial role in the politics of the state, as a third of the 60 assembly seats are reserved for them. With indigenous population down to 26%, there is deep-seated discontent among them, and the agitation could have long-standing repercussions on the upcoming elections and on the future of the state.