Agartala: TIPRA Motha, BJP’s coalition partner in Tripura, has stepped up pressure on the saffron party over implementation of the Tiprasa Accord ahead of elections to village committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said after a meeting with party members in Agartala on Monday, the party would not work with BJP in the village committee elections unless progress was made on implementing the agreement.The agreement was signed by TIPRA Motha with Centre and Tripura govt ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to address issues concerning the state’s indigenous population. Motha has since sought a time-bound follow-up on its provisions.The renewed pressure comes amid reports that BJP and TIPRA Motha have discussed a possible seat-sharing arrangement for the village committee polls. Neither party has, however, announced an agreement.BJP has struggled to expand its organisational base in parts of the tribal belt, where TIPRA Motha emerged as the dominant force after the last TTAADC elections. Some BJP tribal functionaries claimed that internal differences had also affected the party’s growth in the region.Tensions between workers of the coalition partners have surfaced periodically. BJP functionaries alleged that Motha supporters had disrupted party programmes, including broadcasts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, and raised slogans against senior BJP functionaries. TIPRA Motha’s response to the allegations was not immediately available.The political mobilisation has coincided with protests by surrendered insurgents seeking a rehabilitation package. Protesters blocked roads in the Baramura and Atharamura hill areas on Tuesday, disrupting traffic despite inclement weather.Some BJP tribal leaders alleged that Motha was pursuing a two-track strategy — pressing for implementation of the accord through political negotiations while using protests in tribal areas to increase pressure on the state and central govts. They also alleged that groups representing surrendered insurgents were supporting the blockades.No evidence establishing that TIPRA Motha organised the protests or directed the participating groups was immediately available. Motha’s response to the allegation should be included.With the village committee elections approaching, the party faces the task of balancing its demand for implementation of the accord with the possibility of an electoral understanding with BJP.
