Agartala, 23rd August 2026 : Ahead of the upcoming Village Committee elections, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) organised a rally in Agartala on Sunday to mark ADC Day and demonstrate its organisational strength.
The rally was followed by the submission of a deputation to the Governor, reiterating the party’s long-standing demand for a separate state for indigenous people.
IPFT General Secretary and state minister Shukla Charan Noatia said the party has been demanding full statehood for the autonomous district council since 2009. He said the demand was being raised to protect the identity, traditions and heritage of the indigenous population.
“Every year, IPFT observes the day either in Delhi or in Tripura. This year, we decided to organise the programme in Agartala and submit a deputation to the Governor,” Noatia said.
The rally was attended by IPFT president Prem Kumar Reang and other senior leaders, besides party workers and supporters.
The IPFT has been part of the BJP-led government in Tripura since 2018. However, the party has faced organisational challenges in recent years, particularly following the death of its former supremo and veteran tribal leader N.C. Debbarma. Its electoral performance in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has also remained a major concern, with the party failing to win a seat in the last ADC election.
With the Village Committee elections approaching, Sunday’s programme is being viewed as an effort by the party to reconnect with its support base and project its organisational presence among the indigenous population.
Whether the latest mobilisation will translate into electoral gains remains to be seen. Political observers say the party’s ability to strengthen its grassroots organisation and remain connected with people will be crucial in determining its future political relevance.
