Agartala, 24th August 2026 : Tipra Motha Party (TMP) chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has indicated that his party could contest the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) village committee elections independently if differences with the BJP over seat-sharing remain unresolved.
In a late-night social media post, Debbarma, popularly known as Bubagra, said the political interests and future of the Tiprasa community would remain his priority, even if taking a firm stand resulted in political setbacks for his party.
He acknowledged that some elected representatives might choose to leave the party if difficult decisions were taken, but asserted that such developments would not prevent him from pursuing what he termed the larger interests of the indigenous community.
His remarks came after talks between Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath and TMP general secretary Brishaketu Debbarma failed to produce an agreement on seat-sharing and an electoral understanding for the village committee polls.
The elections to 587 village committees are expected to be held in the first half of September. With no agreement reached so far, uncertainty has grown over whether the two ruling alliance partners will jointly contest the elections or face each other in several constituencies.
While Pradyot stopped short of making a formal announcement about an independent contest, his comments have fuelled speculation that TMP could field its own candidates if negotiations with the BJP fail.
Debbarma also renewed his appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for constitutional safeguards to protect the rights and interests of indigenous people.
He maintained that he was ready to withstand political pressure and continue pursuing a constitutional solution, arguing that the survival and future of the Tiprasa community were more important than electoral or organisational considerations.
TMP joined the BJP-led state government following the 2023 Assembly elections. However, differences between the allies, particularly over commitments related to the Tiprasa accord and its implementation, have remained a source of friction. The village committee elections could now provide a fresh test of the relationship between the two parties.
