Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are dedicated to upholding the constitutional rights of tribal communities in Tripura, as stated by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the founder and chairman of Tipra Motha Party (TMP). The TMP, a tribal-centric party led by Debbarma, has been a minor ally of the ruling BJP since March 2024.
Following extensive discussions, the TMP, previously in the opposition, inked a three-way pact with the Central government and the Tripura administration on March 2, 2024, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Subsequently, with 13 MLAs, the party became part of the BJP-led coalition government on March 7 last year, introducing a new dynamic to the state’s political landscape.
Two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were appointed to Chief Minister Manik Saha’s cabinet. Debbarma expressed to the media that the Prime Minister had endorsed the tripartite agreement and expressed faith in the Union Home Minister’s commitment to its execution for the comprehensive socio-economic progress of Tripura’s tribal populace.
Debbarma emphasized that the TMP’s primary goal is the advancement of tribal communities and the safeguarding of their constitutional rights, regardless of the statements made by state BJP leaders concerning the agreement, tribals, or the TMP. He reiterated the central BJP leadership’s dedication to implementing the accord.
As the crucial elections for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) approach, tensions between the BJP and the TMP have escalated, with incidents of clashes, assaults, and retaliations involving workers of both parties in various parts of the state. Debbarma also highlighted the establishment of the TTAADC in 1982 after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi amended the Constitution, despite opposition from state Congress leaders at the time.
Since 2021, the TMP has been governing the politically significant 30-member TTAADC, encompassing nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area and housing over 12.16 lakh individuals, with approximately 84% belonging to indigenous groups. In preparation for the TTAADC polls, major political factions, including the ruling BJP, its allies TMP and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), and opposition parties like CPI(M) and Congress, have intensified efforts to secure tribal support, constituting nearly one-third of Tripura’s total population of around 4.2 million. The TTAADC elections are set for March.
