Agartala: TIPRA Motha secured a resounding victory in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, winning 24 out of 28 seats as results were announced on Friday.BJP managed to win only four seats, while neither Congress nor CPM secured any. This marks a significant shift from the 2021 ADC elections, when BJP contested 13 seats and won nine, while TIPRA Motha, which contested all 28 seats, claimed victory in 18. After those elections, an independent candidate joined BJP, raising its tally to 10 seats.Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, TIPRA Motha allied with BJP and became part of the governing coalition. However, tensions between the two parties grew over delays and disagreements regarding the implementation of the Tiprasa Accord signed prior to the Lok Sabha polls.The Accord pledged to promote socio-economic, cultural, and linguistic development for tribal communities, but TIPRA Motha accused both the central and Tripura govts of failing to honour their commitments. Relations deteriorated further as disagreements deepened.TIPRA Motha’s founder, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, openly criticised CM Manik Saha, accusing him of obstructing efforts toward creating Greater Tipraland — a proposed state extending into regions of Bangladesh and south Assam.Adding to the friction were incidents of violence and alleged attacks on BJP workers over the past two years. This ultimately led the BJP to contest the ADC elections independently against TIPRA Motha, despite their coalition at the state level.The election results have significantly altered Tripura’s political dynamics, with tribal communities uniting against non-tribal parties, including BJP, and setting aside traditional political loyalties.Congress MLA and senior politician Sudip Roy Barman observed that TIPRA Motha successfully drew support from approximately 65% of the CPM’s voter base by prioritising ethnic issues championed by Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.A notable factor contributing to TIPRA Motha’s success was the limited involvement of senior BJP leaders from Delhi in the campaign. Even key figures, such as BJP MP for East Tripura, remained largely absent from election activities, which weakened the party’s efforts.Pradyot solidified his support among tribal voters by portraying himself as a staunch advocate for their rights and aspirations for statehood. Interestingly, certain BJP leaders within Tripura reportedly lent tacit support to his agenda to undermine CM Saha for their own political advantage.Pradyot also alleged that while BJP’s national leadership aimed to fulfil the promises outlined in the Tiprasa Accord, Saha actively obstructed those efforts — an accusation that resonated strongly with voters and strengthened TIPRA Motha’s position.He further speculated that a comprehensive victory for TIPRA Motha in these ADC elections could pressure a change in the chief ministerial role, potentially leading to an individual more aligned with his vision.Unlike previous elections that saw high-profile campaigning by national BJP leaders, including extensive media promotions featuring promises by figures such as the Prime Minister and home minister, this time there was a noticeable absence of such efforts. This void seemingly boosted public confidence in Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and his party, further propelling their landslide electoral success.
