Agartala, July 29:
Tensions within Tripura’s ruling alliance reached a boiling point as Tipra Motha supporters on Tuesday gheraoed the Champahour police station in Khowai district, demanding the release of a party worker arrested in connection with an alleged attack on BJP workers in Asharambari Assembly constituency.
The arrest followed a violent incident during the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Sunday, where several BJP supporters were reportedly injured. Police action in the aftermath led to the arrest of one Tipra Motha supporter, sparking anger and protests from the regional ally.
Protesters warned the BJP — their coalition partner — of serious consequences if the arrested worker is not released, indicating rising friction within the alliance.
Local MLA and Minister Animesh Debbarma, who represents Asharambari, condemned the attack but strongly denied the involvement of Tipra Motha supporters.
Speaking exclusively to North East Live, Debbarma without naming anyone urged for political maturity among the leadership and questioned the BJP’s unilateral approach to organising programmes featuring the Prime Minister.
“Modi ji is not just the Prime Minister of BJP, he is everyone’s Prime Minister. If the BJP had any programme, they should have involved their allies,” Debbarma said.
Raising concerns over the legitimacy of the arrest on Motha supporters in his constituency, he alleged that police may have acted under BJP pressure without proper verification.
He warned and raised that if injustice continues, the movement might expand beyond Asharambari and engulf other parts of the state, for which who would be held responsible.
Debbarma also cast doubt over one of the injured BJP workers admitted to GBP Hospital and visited by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, hinting at possible exaggeration.
Calling for composure, Debbarma emphasized that the alliance between BJP and Tipra Motha has the potential to work better if leaders act with maturity and refrain from stoking internal conflict.
The recent developments have further fueled speculation about the stability of the BJP–Tipra Motha alliance, which appears to be growing increasingly fragile. Earlier, Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma had voiced serious concerns over the state government’s inaction regarding the identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants residing in Tripura, as mandated by a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Adding to the friction, just last week, a Tipra Motha delegation led by Minister of State Brishyaketu Debbarma met with the Election Commission of India, urging the implementation of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tripura—similar to the exercise conducted in Bihar—to weed out illegal voters from the state’s electoral list.
