Agartala: Amid growing speculation over the political equations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Tipra Motha Party ahead of the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), the BJP on Tuesday clarified that no discussions on seat-sharing between the two parties have been initiated so far.
Both parties are part of the coalition government in Tripura, but as the TTAADC elections approach, each appears keen to establish itself as the strongest contender for control of the council.
BJP state General Secretary Bipin Debbarma said the party has not received any directive from the central leadership regarding seat-sharing arrangements with Tipra Motha. “We have not received any communication from Delhi regarding seat-sharing with Tipra Motha. If such discussions take place in the future, the party high command will step in and oversee the process. At present, we are preparing to contest all 28 seats,” he said.
Debbarma also announced that several leaders from Tipra Motha recently joined the BJP. According to him, five leaders who had held important organisational positions in Tipra Motha switched sides, citing the BJP’s development-oriented policies as their motivation.
Among those who joined the BJP are Gurupada Debbarma, a former central committee member of Tipra Motha, along with Usharanjan Debbarma and Chittaranjan Debbarma. Debbarma noted that Gurupada Debbarma was once a close associate of Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and had previously served as General Secretary of the Tipraland State Party, which later merged with Tipra Motha before the last TTAADC elections.
Speaking to reporters, Gurupada Debbarma alleged that Tipra Motha had failed to fulfil several promises made before the 2021 elections. He claimed commitments such as filling 30,000 backlog government posts, recruiting 6,000 personnel for TTAADC police, and delivering a constitutional solution under the Tiprasa Accord and Greater Tipraland had not materialised.
He also praised Narendra Modi for what he described as an inclusive development model.
