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Tripura’s Fragile Alliance: Will The TIPRA Agreement Become BJP’s Achilles Heel?

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
  • Sep 08, 2025
  • 1066

Two years ago, the historic Triprasa Agreement was hailed as a breakthrough moment for Tripura’s tribal communities. Brokered in March 2023 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the pact between the Centre, the state government, and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) promised constitutional safeguards, socio-economic upliftment, and dignity for the state’s indigenous people.

But today, that promise appears increasingly hollow. On September 9, TIPRA Motha—ironically, now an ally of the BJP in the state government—will take to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in protest, accusing the Centre of dragging its feet on implementing the agreement.

The Unfulfilled Pact

The TIPRA Motha joined the BJP-led government soon after the agreement, lending its support with 13 MLAs and securing two cabinet berths. In return, its leadership expected visible action on the issues closest to its people’s identity and survival.

Instead, what followed was political silence and bureaucratic delay. Nearly 18 months later, TMP leaders argue that no substantial steps have been taken. For party supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, this is nothing short of betrayal.

“We have 93 demands, but two are central—identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, and constitutional recognition for Greater Tipraland,” Debbarma told supporters, adding: “If America can deport Indian migrants, why can’t India address illegal infiltration in Tripura?”

 “Non-Political” Protest with Political Weight

Debbarma has been careful to brand the September 9 dharna as a non-political demonstration. No party flags will be carried, he insists; instead, tribal organizations, cultural groups, and grassroots leaders will gather to demand protection of indigenous identity, culture, and traditions. Parallel protests have also been called across villages and towns in Tripura.

But observers say the political message is unmistakable.

BJP Under Pressure

The BJP may be facing its most uncomfortable moment with its tribal ally. Tripura’s electoral math is shaped decisively by the tribal vote, and the TMP’s discontent could puncture the BJP’s carefully cultivated base.

Analysts warn that the protest is more than symbolic dissent—it’s leverage. The TMP has already threatened to withdraw support if the Centre fails to deliver on its promises. Were that to happen, Tripura’s ruling coalition would face turbulence, and New Delhi could find itself firefighting yet another fragile alliance in the Northeast.

The “Greater Tipraland” Question

The thorniest of TMP’s demands—the constitutional recognition of Greater Tipraland—remains politically contentious and legally fraught. Critics argue that it is unworkable in India’s current federal structure, while supporters see it as the only path to safeguarding tribal identity.

This leaves the BJP walking a tightrope: appease its ally at the risk of alienating other constituencies, or stall and risk losing the support that holds its government together.

Outlook

The September 9 protest at Jantar Mantar may appear to be a cultural assertion, but its political implications are far-reaching. It is a litmus test not just for the survival of the TIPRA Agreement, but also for the durability of the BJP-TMP alliance.

If the Centre moves swiftly to implement parts of the agreement, the partnership might limp forward. If not, the dharna could mark the beginning of a political realignment in Tripura—with consequences rippling far beyond the state.

In the end, the fate of the Triprasa Agreement may well determine whether Tripura remains a bastion for the BJP, or becomes the site of its next political headache.