BJP MP Kriti Singh and Tipra Motha Party leaders met JP Nadda and Jual Oram in Delhi to press for the Tiprasa Accord’s implementation and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tripura. The delegation also raised national security concerns linked to illegal migration from Bangladesh.
East Tripura BJP MP Kriti Devi Debbarman and a high-level delegation of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) met with Union Health Minister and BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in New Delhi on Thursday. The leaders held extensive discussions on issues concerning the development of tribal communities in Tripura, national security concerns, and the long-pending implementation of the Tiprasa Accord.
The TMP delegation, which included TMP supremo and royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, Minister Animesh Debbarma, Minister of State Brishaketu Debbarma, and MLA Ranjit Debbarma, held a crucial meeting with Nadda at his office. The delegation emphasized the urgent need to implement the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tripura and expedite the provisions of the Tiprasa Accord, which was signed on March 2, 2024.
A TMP spokesperson based in Agartala confirmed that the discussions with Nadda focused on the SIR process, national security issues stemming from the prevailing situation in neighboring Bangladesh, and atrocities against minority communities there. The leaders expressed their concerns that illegal migration from across the border is impacting the demographic balance and socio-political landscape of Tripura and the Northeast.
Following the meeting, TMP chief Pradyot Debbarma told the media that the Union government had earlier assured the implementation of the Tiprasa Accord before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but progress has been slow. He urged the BJP leadership to honor the commitment made to the indigenous communities of Tripura.
The SIR, a special voter list revision mechanism, is being demanded by TMP to ensure the removal of illegal voters from Tripura’s electoral rolls through a comprehensive door-to-door verification process. The demand mirrors the model adopted in Bihar recently and is seen as critical in safeguarding the political and cultural interests of the indigenous Tiprasa people.
On Wednesday, a nine-member TMP delegation had met with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The TMP pressed the ECI for immediate implementation of the SIR in Tripura. According to Pradyot Debbarma, the Commission responded positively and assured that the process would be carried out across the country, including Tripura.
“Illegal migration is affecting our state and the entire Northeast. If we don’t act now to identify illegal voters, the future of our next generation is at stake. The ECI’s assurance that the SIR will be implemented nationwide, including in Tripura, is a welcome step,” Pradyot said.
Later in the day, the TMP and BJP leaders also called on Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram at his residential office. The delegation reiterated their demands related to the empowerment and socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities, especially in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) region.
The Tiprasa Accord, a tripartite agreement between the Centre, the Tripura government, and the TMP, was a major turning point in Tripura’s political landscape. Signed after prolonged negotiations, the agreement led to TMP joining the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024, with two of its MLAs inducted as ministers in the Manik Saha-led cabinet.
The TMP has since been advocating for greater autonomy for the TTAADC and accelerated development of tribal areas in Tripura. The implementation of the accord and the electoral roll revision have become central demands of the party, which claims to represent the voice of Tripura’s indigenous population.
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Thursday’s meetings signal a renewed push by TMP to ensure that the Centre follows through on its commitments made under the accord. The party’s strategic partnership with the BJP appears to hinge on these assurances being honored in both letter and spirit.
