BJP’s Janajati Outreach: Strategy to Counter Regional Forces in Tripura

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
• Sep 03, 2025
• 588

As the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is intensifying its focus on Janajati voters, a demographic that has historically determined the outcome in the tribal council.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha welcomed 610 voters from 200 Janajati families into the BJP fold at Killa Bazar, projecting the move as evidence of growing tribal trust in the party’s governance model. He accused the CPI(M) and Congress of decades of neglect, while positioning BJP as the party of “peace, connectivity, and development” under the Modi government’s HIRA model.

The Political Stakes

Tribal voters account for one-third of Tripura’s population, making them decisive in the TTAADC, which functions as a mini-assembly for the state’s autonomous tribal areas. While the BJP has made inroads since 2018, it continues to face stiff resistance from Tipra Motha, which swept the last TTAADC polls on its “Greater Tipraland” demand.

BJP’s Strategy

By highlighting peace, infrastructure, and central schemes, the BJP is attempting to erode Tipra Motha’s dominance in the hills. The joining of Janajati families is being projected as a shift in grassroots sentiment, though analysts suggest the challenge lies in converting these symbolic inductions into electoral consolidation.

The Road Ahead

With CPI(M) struggling to regain ground and Congress losing relevance, the battle for the TTAADC is increasingly shaping up as a BJP vs Tipra Motha contest. The BJP’s aggressive outreach, coupled with its claim of stability and development, aims to counter the identity-driven politics of regional players.

Whether these efforts will bridge the trust deficit among Janajatis remains a crucial test for the BJP ahead of the elections.