TMP may break BJP alliance for Tripura village polls if tripartite accord ignored
Synopsis
Pradyot Debbarma's warning is the clearest sign yet that the BJP-TMP alliance in Tripura is under serious strain. With 587 Village Committee seats at stake, TMP — which won 24 of 28 TTAADC seats in April — holds the real electoral weight in tribal Tripura. If the accord remains on paper, Debbarma has both the mandate and the leverage to walk.
Key Takeaways
TMP supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma warned on Monday of reconsidering the BJP alliance for upcoming Village Committee elections in Tripura's tribal areas.
The tripartite accord was signed on 2 March 2024 but has remained largely unimplemented for over two-and-a-half years , according to Debbarma.
Elections to 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC are scheduled later this year; BJP-TMP talks in New Delhi on a joint strategy were inconclusive.
In the April 2025 TTAADC elections, TMP won 24 of 28 elected seats; BJP secured only four .
Debbarma rejected token political settlements, stating that ministerial posts benefit only '10-15 people' while 14 lakh tribal people remain unserved.
He alleged attempts to poach TMP MLAs and MDC members during recent elections, with some having left the party.
Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on Monday warned that his party could sever its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Village Committee elections in Tripura's tribal areas, unless the Centre and the state government move to implement the tripartite accord signed on 2 March 2024. The warning, issued on the sidelines of an extended TMP leadership conclave in Agartala, marks the sharpest public signal of strain in the BJP-TMP coalition since the pact was inked.
What Debbarma Said
Debbarma stated he would be compelled to 'go his separate way' if the constitutional rights promised to Tripura's indigenous communities under the accord remain undelivered. Speaking to reporters after the internal meeting — attended by TMP MLAs, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) members, and senior party functionaries — he was unequivocal: 'I am very clear. If these people are serious, they should implement the accord.'
He was careful to separate personal regard from political accountability, noting he held 'a lot of respect' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, even as he warned of a decisive 'next course of action' if the impasse continues. The accord has remained largely unfulfilled, he said, despite more than two-and-a-half years since its signing.
The Accord and What It Promises
The tripartite agreement — signed in the presence of Home Minister Shah in March 2024 — brought TMP into the BJP-led government in Tripura as a junior partner. Under the pact, two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, were inducted into the cabinet led by Chief Minister Manik Saha. However, Debbarma argued that ministerial appointments alone do not constitute implementation, rejecting what he called a 'limited political settlement.' 'You can make 10-15 people happy, but 14 lakh tribal people will remain where they were,' he said.
Background: Village Polls and TTAADC Dominance
The immediate flashpoint is the forthcoming election to 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC, scheduled later this year. The two parties recently held inconclusive talks in New Delhi over a joint electoral strategy. TMP leaders also met BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra in recent weeks, without reaching a firm agreement.
TMP's electoral standing in the tribal council is formidable: in the 12 April TTAADC elections, the party won 24 of 28 elected seats, while the BJP secured only four. TMP has governed the TTAADC since 2021 — an institution widely regarded as the second most important constitutional body in Tripura after the Legislative Assembly.
Allegations of Party Poaching
Debbarma also alleged that efforts were made to weaken TMP during recent electoral cycles, with some MLAs and Mandal Development Council (MDC) members reportedly approached to switch sides, and a few having left the party. He framed these alleged moves as evidence of bad faith, reinforcing his call for concrete action on the accord rather than political manoeuvring.
With village poll dates approaching and no resolution in sight, the BJP-TMP alliance faces its most consequential test yet — one that could reshape Tripura's tribal political landscape ahead of the next Assembly election.
Point of View
Unusually, sits with the junior partner. What makes this consequential is the accord's specificity: it promised constitutional rights to indigenous communities, not just cabinet chairs, and its non-implementation is verifiable. If the BJP cannot show tangible progress before the village polls, Debbarma faces pressure from his own base to act — making this less a negotiating tactic and more a deadline.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is TMP threatening to break its alliance with the BJP in Tripura?
TMP chief Pradyot Debbarma says the tripartite accord signed on 2 March 2024 — which brought TMP into the BJP-led government — has not been implemented despite more than two-and-a-half years. He argues that the constitutional rights promised to Tripura's indigenous communities remain undelivered, and that ministerial posts alone do not fulfil the accord's obligations.
What is the tripartite accord signed in March 2024?
The tripartite accord is an agreement signed in March 2024 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, under which TMP joined the BJP-led government in Tripura as a junior partner. Two TMP MLAs — Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma — were inducted into the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Manik Saha. The accord also included commitments on constitutional rights for Tripura's indigenous tribal population.
What are the upcoming Village Committee elections in Tripura?
Elections to 587 Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) are scheduled later this year. The TTAADC is considered the second most important constitutional institution in Tripura after the Legislative Assembly, and TMP has governed it since 2021.
How strong is TMP's position in the TTAADC?
TMP is the dominant force in the TTAADC, having won 24 of 28 elected seats in the April 2025 council elections, while the BJP secured only four. This gives TMP significant independent electoral leverage in tribal Tripura.
What did Debbarma say about offers of ministerial positions?
Debbarma explicitly rejected the idea of a limited political settlement through ministerial appointments, saying such moves benefit only '10-15 people' while 14 lakh tribal people remain unserved. He insisted the core issue is implementation of the accord's provisions, not individual positions or financial benefits.
