Tripura BJP intensifies outreach among tribal communities to reduce dependence on regional allies IPFT and TMP. A mega tribal rally is set for August 9 in Agartala, aiming to bolster the party’s base ahead of TTAADC elections. Honorarium for tribal leaders increased, reinforcing BJP’s tribal-centric development push.
In a strategic political move ahead of the crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections next year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making concentrated efforts to expand its base among tribal communities. This initiative is intended to reduce the party’s reliance on its allies, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), for tribal votes and political support.
The tribal population, constituting nearly one-third of Tripura’s four million residents, plays a decisive role in state politics. Acknowledging this, the BJP has planned a mega public rally in Agartala on August 9 to mobilize tribal support.
BJP General Secretary Bipin Debbarma announced, “We expect more than 15,000 tribal supporters from West Tripura and neighboring districts to attend. Chief Minister Manik Saha and other key leaders will address the gathering.”
To further reinforce its goodwill among the tribals, the BJP-led state government recently increased the monthly honorarium for tribal community leaders (Samajpatis) from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000. Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Saha stated on social media platform X, “This step reflects our commitment to recognizing the vital role of Samajpatis in preserving and guiding tribal society.”
A senior tribal leader in the BJP, speaking anonymously, explained, “As a national party, our vision is broader. We aim to consolidate our position among the tribals, while regional parties often focus on narrower, identity-based politics, which sometimes creates complications.”
The Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and BJP-ruled states have introduced numerous welfare schemes for India’s 11 crore tribal citizens, the leader added.
Despite these initiatives, tensions have flared between the BJP and TMP in recent days. TMP workers reportedly attacked BJP functionaries during two separate incidents in Khowai and West Tripura districts. One serious incident occurred during a BJP gathering for PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on July 27 in Khowai, injuring nine workers. Another clash on Thursday in Jampuijala left one BJP member hospitalized with serious injuries.
These attacks come even as the TMP formally remains an ally of the BJP. TMP, led by former royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, emerged as a political force after its landslide victory in the 2021 TTAADC polls, where it ousted the CPI(M)-led Left Front.
Looking to assert its independence and political strength, the BJP recently convened a daylong meeting on July 17, named Janajati Chintan Shivir, with its elected and organizational tribal leaders. The meeting, attended by CM Manik Saha, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, and other top tribal figures, was focused on boosting grassroots support in tribal regions.
Bhattacharjee remarked, “The meeting was aimed at expanding the party’s organizational network among tribal communities. We want to ensure sustained engagement and upliftment, not just electoral success.”
Chief Minister Saha emphasized the impact of the Modi government’s governance model on tribal welfare. “Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi Ji, governance has reached both the hills and plains. The BJP-led efforts to transform the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities, especially in the long-neglected Northeast, are now producing tangible results,” Saha stated on X.
In Tripura’s 60-member Assembly, 20 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. In the 2023 elections, BJP secured six of these tribal seats while IPFT, its long-time ally, managed only one. TMP, then in the opposition, captured 13 seats and later joined the BJP-led alliance.
The political dynamics in tribal regions have long been complex. The CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled Tripura for over three decades, also had a strong tribal base and held control over the TTAADC for many years.
TMP’s rise since 2021 has altered the landscape. The TTAADC covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s landmass and is home to over 12 lakh people—84% of whom are tribals. With TMP now dominating the tribal council and eyeing greater influence, the BJP is moving swiftly to re-establish itself as the leading voice for tribal interests in Tripura.
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As the countdown to the TTAADC polls begins, the August 9 rally and renewed outreach efforts mark the BJP’s determined push to secure the tribal vote bank on its own terms, reducing its strategic vulnerabilities and ensuring long-term political stability in the state.
