Agartala, Jan 12 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are dedicated to upholding the constitutional rights of the tribal populations in Tripura, asserted Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the founder and chairman of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), this Monday.

Leading the tribal-centric TMP, which has been allied with the ruling BJP since March 2024, Debbarma emphasized the party's commitment to its constituents.

After extensive discussions, the TMP, then positioned as the opposition, finalized a tripartite agreement with the central government and the Tripura administration on March 2, 2024, with Amit Shah present. The party, boasting 13 MLAs, entered the BJP-led coalition government on March 7, 2024, significantly altering the political landscape of the state.

Two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were incorporated into the ministry led by Chief Minister Manik Saha.

In a media interaction, Debbarma noted that the Prime Minister endorsed the tripartite agreement and expressed his belief that the Union Home Minister would facilitate its execution to foster comprehensive socio-economic growth among the tribal populace in Tripura.

“The statements made by state BJP leaders concerning the agreement, the tribals, or the TMP are inconsequential to us, as the central BJP leadership is devoted to realizing the agreement,” stated the TMP chief. He reaffirmed that the TMP's singular aim is to advance the tribal communities and safeguard their constitutional rights.

As the vital elections for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) approach, tensions between the BJP and the TMP have escalated, with numerous reports of confrontations between party workers across various regions.

Debbarma also recalled that the TTAADC was established in 1982 following a constitutional amendment by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, despite opposition from the Congress party at the time.

Since 2021, the TMP has been leading the critical 30-member TTAADC, which encompasses nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s geographic expanse of 10,491 square kilometers and is home to over 1.2 million individuals, approximately 84% of whom are from indigenous communities.

In preparation for the TTAADC elections, all prominent political entities, including the ruling BJP, its allies TMP and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), along with opposition parties CPI(M) and Congress, have ramped up efforts to rally support among tribal voters, who comprise nearly one-third of Tripura’s total population of about 4.2 million.

The TTAADC elections are slated for March.