Agartala, March 23:
Ending weeks of speculation over a possible electoral understanding, TIPRA Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Monday categorically ruled out any alliance between his party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections, asserting that his political line will remain anchored solely to the interests of the Tiprasa community.
In a social media live address from Delhi, Debbarma made it clear that without tangible progress on the commitments of the Tiprasa Accord signed two years ago, there is no question of entering into any electoral pact.
He underscored that assurances without implementation would not suffice, signalling a decisive break from any backchannel negotiations.
Framing the April 12 TTAADC polls as a direct political battle, Debbarma positioned the contest as a mandate on rights, identity, and the future of the indigenous population.
The council, which administers nearly 70 percent of Tripura’s geographical area, is widely viewed as a crucial barometer ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
Taking a defiant stance, Debbarma, also the royal family head of Tripura, declared he would neither “bow down” nor “compromise,” despite sustained criticism in recent months.
He emphasised that his allegiance lies with his people rather than political formations, stating that electoral strength would be demonstrated through the ballot.
In a broad appeal cutting across party lines—including supporters of BJP, CPI(M), Congress, and IPFT—he called for unity among Tiprasa voters while cautioning against internal divisions and violence.
He urged supporters to channel grievances democratically, framing the election as a collective struggle for rights and generational equity rather than a conventional political contest.
The TIPRA Motha chief also projected confidence in electoral success, asserting that public support, particularly from economically weaker sections within the community, would outweigh the influence of money and power wielded by rivals.
With the alliance question now firmly settled, the TTAADC elections are set to witness a multi-cornered contest, with Debbarma throwing an open challenge to opponents and positioning the polls as a litmus test of grassroots support in Tripura’s tribal belt.
