Agartala, March 23 (NationPress) Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the founder and leader of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), has decisively dismissed any possibility of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in anticipation of the forthcoming elections for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The elections for the 30-member TTAADC, which holds significant political importance, are set for April 12, with vote counting scheduled for April 17.

In a video message from New Delhi, Debbarma, a former royal figure, emphasized that any electoral collaboration would be contingent upon tangible advancements regarding the tripartite agreement established two years ago. He stated that “promises without actual progress on the pact” would not be tolerated, asserting that commitments must lead to real actions.

Officials from both the BJP and TMP indicated that central leaders from the party had recently convened several meetings in New Delhi to discuss a potential seat-sharing arrangement. TMP leader and MLA Ranjit Debbarma disclosed that Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma was engaged in talks with BJP officials to finalize this arrangement.

Describing the April 12 TTAADC elections as a critical political confrontation, he characterized the vote as a mandate for identity, rights, and the future of the indigenous Tiprasa populace.

Taking a resolute stance, the TMP chief affirmed that he would not compromise or cave in under duress, reiterating his allegiance to the indigenous community. He also highlighted that the party’s electoral strength would be demonstrated through democratic processes.

Debbarma urged tribal voters from various political affiliations, including the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Congress, and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), to unite and avoid division and conflict.

Framing the elections as a united democratic struggle, the tribal leader expressed confidence that grassroots support, particularly from economically disadvantaged groups, would overcome the influence of wealth and power.

With discussions of alliances now concluded, the TTAADC elections are poised to present a multi-faceted contest, with the Tipra Motha Party seeking to transform the voting process into a referendum on indigenous rights.

While the IPFT has historically been an ally of the BJP, the TMP, under Debbarma's leadership, has been a junior partner in the ruling coalition in Tripura since March 2024. Both TMP and IPFT are tribal-centric political entities wielding considerable influence in the state’s indigenous regions.

Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party has controlled the politically vital 30-member TTAADC, composed of 28 elected representatives and two nominated by the state government.

In the 2021 TTAADC elections, the BJP contested 11 seats, winning nine, while a BJP-supported Independent candidate also emerged victorious. Conversely, the TMP established itself as the dominant force, securing 18 seats and taking control of the council from the CPI-M-led Left Front.

The council encompasses nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km territory and is home to over 12.16 lakh residents, approximately 84% of whom belong to indigenous communities.

As the TTAADC elections approach, major political parties—including the BJP, its allies IPFT and TMP, alongside opposition entities like the CPI(M) and Congress—have intensified their efforts to garner support from tribal voters.