Tipra Motha Party (TMP) threatens to pull out of the BJP-led Tripura government, accusing it of failing to implement the Tiprasa Accord and curb illegal infiltration. TMP leaders plan to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The situation may reshape Tripura’s tribal politics despite BJP’s absolute majority.
The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), a key tribal-based ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura, on Saturday warned of withdrawing its support from the state government. The TMP accused the BJP-led administration of failing to implement the provisions of the historic Tiprasa Accord and of not taking serious measures to stop illegal infiltration from neighbouring Bangladesh.
TMP senior leader and MLA, Ranjit Debbarma, addressed the media and expressed deep dissatisfaction over the Centre’s inaction on the demands raised by the indigenous communities of Tripura. “We will be meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon. If our issues remain unresolved after the meeting, then we will be compelled to withdraw our support from the BJP-led government,” said Debbarma.
Despite the warning, the BJP-led government in Tripura is unlikely to face a crisis in the immediate term, as the party holds an absolute majority in the 60-member state assembly. The BJP has 33 MLAs and another tribal ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), has one MLA. TMP currently holds 13 seats.
The roots of the current tension can be traced back to the tripartite agreement signed on March 2, 2024, involving the Centre, the Tripura government, and the TMP. The accord was seen as a breakthrough in tribal politics, aiming to address the longstanding socio-political and economic demands of Tripura’s indigenous people.
Following the accord, TMP joined the ruling coalition on March 7, 2024. Two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were even inducted into the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. However, more than 15 months later, TMP alleges that no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the commitments made in the agreement.
One of TMP’s core demands is the enhancement of autonomy for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which governs two-thirds of the state’s geographical area and represents a tribal population of over 12 lakh people. TMP also demands special focus on the socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities, who often suffer from lack of infrastructure, employment opportunities, and development resources.
While TMP initially campaigned for ‘Greater Tipraland’—a proposed state carved out for tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution—the party had temporarily put that demand on hold during its negotiations with the Centre last year. However, the lack of progress on implementing even moderate provisions of the accord has reignited TMP’s frustration.
The BJP leadership has not issued any official response to TMP’s latest threat. However, political observers in the state note that the development could have long-term consequences on the BJP’s tribal outreach, especially with the 2026 Tripura Tribal Council elections and 2028 Assembly polls on the horizon.
TMP, founded and led by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, emerged as a political force in April 2021 when it won the TTAADC elections, wresting control from the Left Front. The victory solidified its image as a dominant voice for tribal aspirations in Tripura. Its subsequent performance in the 2023 Assembly elections, where it secured 13 seats, further validated its political clout among indigenous voters.
Currently, the opposition CPI(M) has 10 MLAs and the Congress holds three. Despite a seat-sharing arrangement in the last elections, the opposition has struggled to pose a strong challenge to the BJP in the Assembly. However, any split between BJP and TMP could create new alliances in the tribal belts.
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TMP’s threat also brings the issue of illegal infiltration into sharp focus. Many tribal leaders and civil society groups in Tripura have long expressed concern over demographic changes in tribal areas due to cross-border migration. TMP’s stance resonates with this sentiment, and their demand for stricter border management is gaining traction.
As the political situation evolves, all eyes are now on the proposed meeting between TMP leaders and Home Minister Amit Shah. The outcome of that dialogue may decide whether Tripura’s ruling alliance stays intact—or enters a new phase of political realignment.
