BJP, TIPRA Motha Seal Electoral Pact for Tripura Tribal Body Polls
BJP agrees to implement 2024 Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA Motha, paving way for joint contest in Tripura tribal village polls on September 28.
The BJP has agreed to proceed with the implementation of the March 2024 Tripartite Agreement, including measures on indigenous land rights, clearing the way for a joint electoral front with regional parties in Tripura's upcoming tribal council village elections.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha announced the development in Agartala after returning from New Delhi, where he held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. Saha described the talks as "fruitful and constructive" and confirmed that the three NDA partners — BJP, TIPRA Motha, and IPFT — would contest the September 28 Village Committee elections together.
The agreement, signed on March 2, 2024, among the Centre, the Tripura government, TIPRA Motha, and other stakeholders, aims to address issues concerning indigenous communities, including land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture, and language. It also provided for a Joint Working Committee to outline a time-bound implementation roadmap.
Pradyot Debbarma had consistently maintained that implementation of the agreement, particularly the protection of indigenous land rights, was essential for any electoral understanding with the BJP. The Centre has now assured TIPRA Motha that implementation will proceed in phases, with land-rights measures expected to begin next month, within the constitutional framework including the Sixth Schedule.
This marks the first time the BJP, TIPRA Motha, and IPFT will jointly contest the TTAADC Village Committee polls. Elections to 587 Village Committees covering 4,597 seats are scheduled for September 28, with counting on October 5. The polls are being held after a gap of nearly a decade.
The BJP and TIPRA Motha had contested the previous TTAADC elections separately, making their decision to fight together politically significant. Saha said implementation of the agreement would be pursued in a time-bound manner while safeguarding the sentiments and interests of all communities.
The coming months will test the durability of this political understanding, with TIPRA Motha having made the protection of indigenous rights a central commitment.