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BJP Gains as Tipra Motha Facing Pre-Poll Defections

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
  • Mar 24, 2026
  • 1440

In the run-up to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, the state’s political climate has turned increasingly turbulent, with significant defections dealing a blow to the Tipra Motha Party and strengthening the position of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Several prominent leaders, including two sitting Members of District Council (MDCs), have switched allegiance to the BJP in a high-profile induction ceremony held at the party’s state headquarters.

The event was attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, who formally welcomed the new entrants.

Among those joining the BJP were TTAADC Executive Member Anant Debbarma, Ampinagar MDC Saudagar Kalai, former district president Rajesh Kumar Debbarma, Tashiram Riang from Damchhara, and former Gomti zonal chairman Suryabasi Malsom. Senior leaders, including Finance Minister Pranajit Singh Roy and former MP Revati Tripura, were also present, highlighting the political weight of the occasion.

BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya stated that the induction drive is part of a broader strategy and will continue in phases as the elections approach. He noted that the incoming leaders have expressed confidence in the party’s developmental agenda, particularly its emphasis on uplifting tribal communities as a cornerstone of Tripura’s overall progress.

However, the political shift was accompanied by sharp criticism from within the defectors’ ranks. Saudagar Kalai accused the Tipra Motha leadership of straying from its foundational promise of securing “Tipraland” and “Greater Tipraland,” alleging that internal power struggles have eclipsed genuine developmental concerns.

He further levelled serious allegations of entrenched corruption within the TTAADC framework, claiming that certain elected representatives have been involved in extortion targeting government contractors—charges that could further inflame the already charged political atmosphere.

With the TTAADC elections just weeks away, these defections and allegations have injected fresh intensity into the electoral contest, potentially reshaping the dynamics of tribal politics in Tripura.