Tipra Motha Party (TMP) chief Pradyot Debbarma warned that TMP may reconsider its alliance with BJP for Tripura Village Committee elections if the 2024 tripartite accord remains unimplemented.
Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma has indicated that his party could reconsider its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Village Committee elections in Tripura’s tribal areas if the provisions of the tripartite agreement signed in March 2024 are not implemented.
Speaking to reporters in Agartala on Monday, Debbarma said TMP would be compelled to take its own political path if the Centre and the Tripura government failed to fulfil commitments made under the accord. He stressed that implementation of the agreement and protection of the constitutional rights of Tripura’s indigenous population remained the party’s primary concerns.
His remarks came on the sidelines of an extended meeting involving TMP leaders, party MLAs, members of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and senior functionaries. The meeting was held against the backdrop of discussions between BJP and TMP leaders in New Delhi over a possible joint strategy for the forthcoming Village Committee elections.
Debbarma maintained that TMP’s demands were not focused on ministerial positions, official posts or financial benefits. Instead, he said, the party wanted concrete progress on the commitments contained in the tripartite accord signed on March 2, 2024.
“I am very clear. If these people are serious, they should implement the accord,” Debbarma said, while also reiterating his respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He indicated that continued inaction could leave TMP with no option but to determine a separate political course.
The TMP chief also alleged that efforts had been made to weaken his party during recent electoral developments. According to him, some MLAs and elected members of the autonomous council had allegedly been approached, with some eventually leaving the party.
Debbarma further rejected the argument that political appointments could resolve the larger concerns of the indigenous population. He said appointing a limited number of leaders to government positions would not address the broader issues confronting tribal communities.
“You can make 10-15 people happy, but 14 lakh tribal people will remain where they were,” he said, underlining the importance of delivering substantive outcomes rather than limited political settlements.
The latest developments follow meetings between TMP representatives and senior BJP leaders, including BJP national president Nitin Nabin and the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra. TMP has remained a junior partner in the BJP-led Tripura government since March 2024, following the signing of the tripartite accord in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
As part of the alliance arrangement, two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were inducted into Chief Minister Manik Saha’s council of ministers.
The upcoming Village Committee elections are expected to be politically significant for both parties, particularly in the tribal areas administered by the TTAADC. Elections to 587 Village Committees are scheduled to be held later this year.
TMP’s strong performance in the April 12 TTAADC elections has strengthened its position within Tripura’s tribal political landscape. The party won 24 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP secured four seats.
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Since 2021, TMP has governed the TTAADC, which remains a crucial political institution representing the state’s tribal population. With the Village Committee elections approaching, implementation of the 2024 tripartite accord is likely to remain a key issue in determining the future political understanding between TMP and BJP in Tripura.
