BJP Keeps Alliance Option Open with TIPRA Motha for ADC Village Council Polls as Both Sides Signal Divergent Positions
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 19, 2026
The political atmosphere in Tripura has intensified ahead of the upcoming Village Council elections to be held in September 2026 under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally TIPRA Motha sending mixed signals over the future of their electoral understanding.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha said discussions were underway regarding the possibility of an electoral understanding with TIPRA Motha for the Village Council polls. However, he made it clear that the BJP was fully prepared to contest the elections independently if no agreement is reached.
"There are discussions on whether there will be an understanding with TIPRA Motha. Even if no alliance materialises, we are ready to fight the elections on our own. Every election has the possibility of victory or defeat, and we are not worried about that," the Chief Minister said.
Dr. Saha's remarks come at a time when speculation is growing over the future of the BJP-TIPRA Motha relationship, particularly after the signing of the tripartite agreement involving the Government of India, the Government of Tripura and TIPRA Motha aimed at addressing long-standing issues concerning the indigenous people of the state.
Meanwhile, TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma struck a more assertive note, stating that his party would contest the forthcoming ADC elections independently if the commitments made under the agreement with the Central Government are not implemented.
According to Debbarma, the implementation of the agreement remains the party's foremost priority, and failure to honour its provisions could compel TIPRA Motha to go it alone in the Village Council elections.
The contrasting statements from the BJP and TIPRA Motha have fuelled political speculation over whether the alliance that currently supports the state government will continue in the local body elections within the autonomous district.
The political developments also triggered criticism from opposition quarters. Critics questioned the BJP-led government's record on conducting Village Council elections, alleging that despite being in power for more than eight and a half years, the elections have not been held. They argued that the prolonged delay has weakened grassroots democratic institutions in the ADC areas and accused the government of avoiding elections out of fear of losing public support.
Opposition voices further claimed that timely elections would allow people to exercise their democratic rights and elect new representatives, asserting that voters would reject those perceived to have failed in governance.
With the schedule for the ADC Village Council elections expected to be announced in the coming months, the question of whether the BJP and TIPRA Motha will contest together or separately is likely to become one of the defining political issues in Tripura's tribal politics. The outcome of the alliance negotiations, along with the implementation of commitments under the Centre's agreement with TIPRA Motha, is expected to significantly influence the electoral landscape in the TTAADC region.
more news...