Fresh Rift in Tripura Politics: Pradyot Kishore, Ranjit Debbarma Threatens to Withdraw TIPRA Motha’s Support to BJP Over ‘False Promises’

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 21, 2025

Tensions have once again escalated between the ruling BJP and its key tribal ally TIPRA Motha. TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and party MLA Ranjit Debbarma have accused the BJP’s state leadership and government of repeatedly breaking promises.

The controversy surfaced yesterday after BJP minister Bikash Debbarma, returning from Delhi, told reporters at the Agartala MBB airport that the BJP, if victorious in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) election, would resolve all issues of the autonomous body through the 125th Amendment of the Constitution.

Pradyot Kishore Debbarma immediately rejected this claim, stating that no such assurance had ever been given by officials of the Union Home Ministry. Speaking at a Facebook live, he alleged that BJP leaders in Tripura were misleading the tribal community with false commitments. Later that night, in a Facebook Live, he also issued a stern warning that if the BJP’s 'betrayal of promises' continues, TIPRA Motha will withdraw its support from the state government.

This morning, TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma echoed the same stance while speaking to Tripurainfo.com, asserting that if the commitments are not fulfilled within a reasonable timeframe, the party will no longer remain an ally of the BJP.

The rift underscores a growing hostility between Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and the present BJP leadership in Tripura. While BJP leaders are keen to project assurances from Delhi, Pradyot has made it clear that tribal voters must not be misled by 'false guarantees.' He went further to declare that TIPRA Motha is prepared to contest the upcoming ADC election independently, without BJP’s partnership.

In his scathing remarks, Pradyot drew parallels with past decades, stating that the era of treating tribal people as 'naive or childish' is over. 'Those who still think they can fool us with false promises are the biggest fools themselves,' he warned, urging the tribal society not to fall prey to deceptive assurances.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee and a delegation of BJP Janajati Morcha leaders, including Bikash Debbarma, Santana Chakma, and Rampada Jamatia, recently met officials of the Union Home Ministry in Delhi to press for ADC empowerment through the 125th Amendment. However, Pradyot’s direct outreach to the Home Ministry has cast doubt on these claims, further widening the gap between the allies.

With TIPRA Motha signaling an independent fight in the ADC polls and hinting at withdrawing support to the BJP government, Tripura’s political landscape has entered yet another phase of confrontation, particularly in the hills where Pradyot’s influence has kept the BJP marginalized.

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