Agartala, Aug 1 (NationPress) In a bid to diminish its reliance on tribal-centric parties, namely the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the ruling BJP is ramping up initiatives to bolster its organizational presence in regions predominantly inhabited by tribal communities within the northeastern state.

The TMP and IPFT currently serve as allies to the BJP.

BJP's key tribal figure and General Secretary, Bipin Debbarma, announced a significant tribal public rally set for August 9 in Agartala as part of the party's strategy to garner support from the tribal populace, which makes up approximately one-third of Tripura's total population of four million.

"We anticipate over 15,000 tribal attendees from the West Tripura district and surrounding areas to join us in this major event in Agartala.

The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, along with other state leaders, will address the crowd," Debbarma informed IANS.

Recently, the BJP government announced an increase in the monthly honorarium for tribal community leaders.

In a social media update, Chief Minister Manik Saha stated: "In a significant move by the State Cabinet, the honorarium for tribal community leaders (Samajpatis) has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. This decision underscores our commitment to acknowledging the vital contributions and societal roles of the Samajpatis in tribal communities."

A senior tribal leader within the BJP remarked that the party, as a national entity, consistently strives to solidify its support base among tribal populations.

"While we have a national perspective and goals, regional parties often pursue divergent agendas. This sometimes leads to intricate challenges. Hence, we focus on enhancing our tribal engagement," the leader, who preferred to remain unnamed, stated.

The Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside BJP administrations in various states, has initiated numerous schemes aimed at the comprehensive socio-economic advancement of India's 11 crore tribal individuals.

Despite the BJP's intensified efforts to conduct organizational activities in tribal areas, recent incidents have seen TMP members assault BJP functionaries on two separate occasions in Khowai and West Tripura districts over the past five days, resulting in injuries to at least ten individuals.

During a gathering in a village in Khowai district coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on July 27, nine BJP functionaries sustained injuries due to a TMP assault.

On Thursday, TMP activists again targeted BJP members in Jampuijala in West Tripura while they were convening for a meeting related to the upcoming August 9 rally.

One BJP member sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the government-operated Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital. With the elections for the crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) approaching next year, the BJP convened a significant meeting—'Janajati Chintan Shivir'—on July 17 with all elected and organizational tribal leaders.

Attendees included Tripura Chief Minister Saha, state Party President Rajib Bhattacharjee, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, tribal leader and former MP Rebati Tripura, all tribal MLAs, TTAADC members, and various tribal leaders from across Tripura during this daylong event.

"The purpose of the meeting was to further fortify the BJP's organizational presence among tribal communities," Bhattacharjee, who also serves as a Rajya Sabha member, conveyed to the press.

Chief Minister Saha remarked on social media: "Under the insightful leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, effective governance has been extended to both the plains and hills. The resolute efforts of the BJP-led government to elevate the socio-economic and political status of Janajati communities nationwide, including the historically overlooked NE region, are now manifesting positive results."

In Tripura, out of 60 Assembly seats, 20 are reserved for tribal candidates, and both the BJP and the Congress have historically depended on tribal-centric parties for electoral support.

Tribal communities consistently hold a pivotal role in the electoral politics of this northeastern state.

The CPI (M)-led Left Front, which held power in Tripura for 35 years across two terms (1978 to 1988 and 1993 to 2018), has also dominated the TTAADC for many years, benefiting from a strong tribal base. In the 2023 Assembly elections, the BJP secured six of the 20 tribal reserved seats, while its ally, IPFT, managed to capture one seat.

The TMP, which aligned with the BJP in March of last year, achieved 13 seats in the same election.

In a significant political shift, the TMP, during the TTAADC 2021 elections, won a decisive victory, displacing the CPI (M)-led Left parties from power in this crucial autonomous body.

Headed by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the TMP emerged as a formidable political entity following its victory in the TTAADC, which governs two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 1.2 million individuals, around 84% of whom are tribal.