Tripura: Tipra Motha leaders, including founding member, join BJP ahead of TTAADC polls

Agartala: Several leaders of the Tipra Motha party, including founding member Paritosh Debbarma, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, signalling a new round of political realignments in the state’s tribal belt.

The leaders joined the BJP at the party’s state headquarters, Kusha Bhau Bhavan, under the leadership of Amar Debbarma. Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma and Tripura BJP general secretary Bipin Debbarma were present at the event.

Addressing the media, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma said the BJP welcomed the leaders who chose to switch sides, describing their move as timely.

He claimed that several elected representatives of Tipra Motha, including MLAs, Executive Members, and Members of the District Council (MDCs), were in contact with the BJP and were keen to join the party.

“They have already taken initial steps towards the BJP. By January, they are expected to formally join our party. It is only a matter of time,” Debbarma said.

The minister alleged that the BJP was the only political party capable of fulfilling the aspirations of Tripura’s tribal population. Criticising Tipra Motha, he said the party had emerged as a significant political force about five years ago but had failed to deliver on its promises.

“Tipra Motha governed the TTAADC for the last five years. During this period, the council administration could not fill vacant posts and failed to construct even a single all-weather road in the Sixth Schedule areas,” Debbarma alleged.

He further stated that development-oriented governance was possible only under the BJP and asserted that the party was committed to providing a new direction to the autonomous council.

Stressing social harmony, Debbarma said Tripura belonged to all communities, and peace and tranquillity must be maintained across the state.

This development comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the TTAADC elections, with parties aiming to consolidate support in the tribal-dominated regions of Tripura.

Both the BJP and Tipra Motha are coalition partners in the state government, yet they position themselves as rivals in the hills.