Tipra Motha Party (TMP) chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma alleges conspiracy to split TMP ahead of crucial TTAADC elections in Tripura after BJP signals contest in all 28 seats, raising tensions within the ruling alliance.
Political tensions in Tripura have intensified ahead of the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), with Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma accusing rival forces of attempting to divide the tribal-based party. The allegation comes amid growing speculation over political realignments within the ruling alliance in the northeastern state.
Addressing a large gathering at the headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in Khumulwng on Saturday, Debbarma claimed that a “conspiracy” was underway to weaken the party before the crucial council elections expected next month. The TMP chief alleged that recent statements by Chief Minister Manik Saha had effectively broken the alliance between the Tipra Motha Party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Debbarma was referring to the Chief Minister’s recent public rally at Dhumachara in Dhalai district, where Saha reportedly announced that the BJP would contest all 28 seats in the upcoming TTAADC polls.
“If the BJP fields candidates in all 28 seats, then the alliance is already broken. We are not the ones breaking the alliance; the Chief Minister himself has done so,” Debbarma said while addressing supporters. He further asserted that the tribal electorate, often referred to as the “Tiprasa people,” would respond decisively at the ballot box if such a scenario unfolds.
The TMP leader emphasized that his party’s primary objective is to maintain unity among all indigenous communities in the state. He stressed that tribal identity and welfare should remain above religious or ideological divisions.
“Among the tribal communities, there are people from both Christian and Hindu faiths. Our politics is not based on religion. The tribals are economically vulnerable, and our struggle is for their constitutional rights, land rights, and economic development,” said Debbarma, a descendant of Tripura’s former royal family.
The remarks come at a time when media reports have suggested that some TMP legislators, including a minister in the state government, could potentially switch allegiance to the BJP before the council elections. However, Chief Minister Manik Saha recently dismissed such claims as “baseless rumours,” specifically denying speculation that Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma and several other MLAs were planning to join the BJP.
The political significance of the TTAADC cannot be overstated. Established to ensure administrative autonomy for tribal areas, the council governs nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s geographical area, covering around 10,491 square kilometres. According to official estimates, the region is home to over 1.2 million people, with approximately 84 percent belonging to indigenous tribal communities.
The 30-member council consists of 28 elected representatives and two members nominated by the state government. Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party has controlled the council after securing a decisive victory in the TTAADC elections.
In the 2021 polls, the BJP contested 11 seats and won nine, while a BJP-backed independent candidate also emerged victorious. However, the TMP won 18 seats, enabling it to wrest control of the council from the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
As the next election approaches, political activity has intensified across Tripura’s tribal belt. Besides the BJP and TMP, other key players including the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), the Indian National Congress, and the CPI(M) are working to consolidate support among tribal voters.
The stakes are particularly high because tribal communities make up nearly one-third of Tripura’s total population of about 4.2 million people, making the TTAADC elections a critical test of political influence in the state.
The current alliance between the BJP and the Tipra Motha Party was formed in March 2024 following a historic tripartite agreement between the Centre, the Tripura government, and the TMP. The agreement was signed on March 2, 2024, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah after months of negotiations over tribal rights and constitutional safeguards.
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Soon after the agreement, the TMP, which holds 13 seats in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, joined the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024. Two party MLAs—Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma—were inducted into the council of ministers headed by Chief Minister Manik Saha.
With the TTAADC elections expected in April, the unfolding political developments could reshape alliances and significantly influence the balance of power in Tripura’s tribal politics.
