Agartala, August 18: Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the leader of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), indicated on Monday that his party might reconsider its alliance with the BJP for the upcoming village committee elections in Tripura’s tribal areas if the central and state governments fail to implement the provisions of the tri-partite agreement signed on March 2, 2024.
Debbarma stated that if the agreement is not honored and the constitutional rights promised to the indigenous people of Tripura are not guaranteed, they may be compelled to “take a separate path.” He made these remarks during a media interaction after an extended meeting with TMP leaders, legislators, TTAADC members, and senior officials in Agartala.
This meeting followed unsuccessful talks between BJP and TMP leaders in New Delhi regarding a joint strategy for the upcoming village committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Debbarma emphasized that the primary concern for his party is not positions or financial benefits, but the execution of the agreement, which, according to him, has not been fulfilled even after more than two and a half years since its signing.
“I am very clear. If these (BJP) people are serious, they must implement the agreement,” he remarked, expressing respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
He warned that failure to implement the agreement would force his party to decide on further actions. Debbarma also alleged that attempts were made to weaken the TMP during recent elections, with some legislators and MDCs being approached, leading to some departures from the party.
Rejecting the idea of limited political agreements, Debbarma argued that appointing a few leaders to positions or ministerial roles would not address the broader concerns of the tribal population. “You can please 10-15 people, but 1.4 million tribal people will remain where they are,” he stated.
Recently, TMP leaders met with BJP National President Nitin Naveen and Northeast Coordinator Sambit Patra. The TMP, led by Debbarma, has been a junior partner in the BJP-led government since signing the agreement in March 2024, in the presence of Home Minister Shah. Two TMP legislators, Animesh Debbarma and Brishkethu Debbarma, were included in Chief Minister Manik Saha’s government.
Elections for the 587 village committees under the TTAADC are scheduled for the end of this year. In the TTAADC elections held on April 12, TMP won 24 out of 28 seats, while the BJP secured only four. Since 2021, TMP has been operating this council, which is considered the second most important constitutional body in Tripura after the assembly.
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