Context: The ‘Greater Tipraland’ demand seeks to include all tribals living in indigenous areas or villages outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the proposed model. 
Issue

• Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya recently put forward a new political demand of ‘Greater Tipraland’. The demand comes 17 months after he resigned as the state president of the Congress party. 
• The royal claims that his demand for 'Greater Tipraland' would serve the interest of tribals, non-tribals as well as Tripuri tribals staying outside the state including those outside India in Khagrachari, Bandarban, Chittagong and other adjacent border areas in Bangladesh.
• The main demand of the proposed model is to include every tribal person living in an indigenous region or village outside the 'Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council' (TTAADC). The Tripuri community consists of 19 'clans' , most of whom live in the TTAADC region. It is known as 'Greater Tiparaland'.

Note: Tripuri (also known as Tipra, Tiparasa, Twipra) is the Primitive ethnic group of Tripura.
Background

• The demand for Greater Tipraland has reportedly risen due to unfulfilled demands of revising NRC in Tripura and opposition to CAA in the past.

What is Greater Tipraland?

• ‘Greater Tipraland’ is an extension of the ruling Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura's (IPFT) demand of Tipraland, which seeks to form a separate state for tribals of Tripura. 
• While the Tipraland demand sought a separate state for tribals living in the state, the new ‘Greater Tipraland’ demand seeks to include all tribals living in indigenous areas/ villages outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
• However, the idea doesn’t restrict to simply the Tripura tribal council areas but seeks to include ‘Tiprasa’ of Tripuris spread across different states of India like Assam, Mizoram etc. as well.
• It seeks to include even those living in Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachari and other bordering areas of neighbouring Bangladesh.

Is Greater Tipraland demand the same as Greater Nagalim demand?

• The Greater Nagalim demand was put forward previously by rebel Naga outfit-National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).
• The main objective behind the demand was the establishment of Greater Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), comprising all the Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and portions of Myanmar.
• The demand for Greater Nagalim created agitations in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The proposal aimed to benefit Nagas staying in Manipur, Assam or Arunachal.
• The Naga rebel front is currently having peace talks with the central government. 
• Speaking on the comparison of Greater Tipraland demand to Greater Nagalim demand, Pradyot Kishore has clarified Greater Tipraland is not in any way a rebel subject. He said that their demand is a democratic issue and they will be proceeding accordingly. 

Critical Analysis of the issue

• Vote Bank Politics: In the wake of impending elections to TTAADC, this is seen an effort by Pradyot to consolidate the tribal vote bank for his party, Tipraha Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance (TIPRA).
• Changed Political Scenario: With Pradyot’s new political maneuvering, TIPRA has emerged as the single-largest tribal political party of Tripura. The royal scion has announced a mega merger and alliance with all major tribal political parties.This may alter the power balance in State (dominated by CPIM and ruling BJP-IPFT govt.)
• New-age ethnic politics: Tripura saw turbulent violent struggles by different outlawed insurgent outfits for past three decades-  all demanding self-determination and sovereignty on different community lines. This new demand is to unite people from both tribal and non-tribal behind ethnic identity.
• Challenge to Federal Spirit: Even though the demand for Greater Tipraland is on democratic lines, such ethnicity based redrawing of boundaries will hamper the delicate balance in North East. It may also further embolden the demand of Nagas thus putting the entire region under contestations.
• Impacts Relations with Bangladesh: With the passage of 100th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2015, the land boundary between India and Bangladesh has been settled. However, such demands that includes areas falling in Bangladesh will negatively impact the cooperative bilateral relationship between both countries.
• Can create Insurgency: This being a political sensitive issue where ethnicity, development and federalism are involved, Union government has to watch closely the developments & engage with stakeholders to address their grievances. If left unattended the pent up grievances can turn into insurgency in long run.