BJP-Tipra Motha alliance for VC polls almost final, Pradyot meets HM Amit Shah in Delhi

A political understanding between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) for the upcoming Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has reportedly been finalised following a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma in New Delhi on Friday, sources said.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha was present in the meeting.

According to sources, the meeting addressed the key differences that had delayed an electoral understanding between the two parties. An assurance was reportedly given regarding the implementation of commitments made under the earlier tripartite agreement involving the Centre, the Tripura government and Tipra Motha. 

The agreement and issues concerning the rights and interests of the state's indigenous population had been a major point of contention in the alliance discussions, sources said.

The development comes ahead of the September 28 Village Committee polls, with both the BJP and Tipra Motha preparing for the electoral contest. The elections are being held for 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC.

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha is expected to make a formal statement on the outcome of the discussions and the proposed electoral arrangement soon.

Confirming his meeting with the Union Home Minister, Dr Saha posted on social media that he met Amit Shah in New Delhi and held a “fruitful and constructive discussion” on matters of mutual importance and the development and welfare of the people of Tripura.

According to the Chief Minister's post, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and BJP's North East Coordinator Dr Sambit Patra were also present during the meeting.

The reported breakthrough assumes political significance as Tipra Motha had previously maintained that implementation of the tripartite agreement was essential before entering into any electoral understanding with the BJP.

The BJP and Tipra Motha are already partners in the Tripura government, although the two parties contested the recent TTAADC elections separately. A joint strategy for the Village Committee polls could therefore mark an important step towards closer coordination between the two parties at the grassroots level.

With the reported agreement now in place, attention is expected to turn to the details of seat-sharing, campaign coordination and the precise roadmap for implementing the commitments discussed in New Delhi.