The BJP Tipra Motha alliance has finalised a seat-sharing arrangement for Tripura’s upcoming Village Committee (VC) elections, with the two parties deciding to contest the polls together as partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The detailed distribution of seats is expected to be announced by the leadership on Monday.
The agreement follows prolonged discussions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Tipra Motha Party (TMP), including high-level consultations in New Delhi. The elections are scheduled for September 28 across the tribal areas of Tripura.
BJP Tipra Motha alliance settles seat-sharing talks
Senior BJP leaders confirmed that the BJP Tipra Motha alliance had reached an understanding after an extended meeting in Agartala. BJP leader and state Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the discussions had produced a “smooth understanding” between the two parties.
Transport Minister and BJP leader Sushanta Chowdhury also said the parties had agreed to fight the elections together as NDA partners. However, neither side has publicly disclosed the exact number of seats each party will contest.
The final arrangement is significant because the election covers thousands of seats. Leaders had been working to balance the interests of both parties while preparing candidates ahead of the nomination deadline.
VC polls cover 4,597 seats
The BJP Tipra Motha alliance will enter an election covering 587 Village Committees, 2,634 constituencies and 4,597 seats. Polling will take place on September 28 from 7 am to 4 pm.
According to the election schedule announced by the Tripura State Election Commission, September 8 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny will take place on September 9, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until September 11. Counting is scheduled for October 5.
The polls are particularly important because the Village Committee elections have not been held for about a decade. The previous elected committees completed their five-year term in March 2021, while the election process faced delays linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and later legal issues.
BJP Tipra Motha alliance follows Delhi talks
The latest BJP Tipra Motha alliance arrangement comes days after a meeting involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma in New Delhi.
The discussions covered the political understanding between the parties and the implementation of commitments under the 2024 tripartite agreement involving the Centre, the Tripura government and Tipra Motha. Saha had earlier said the NDA partners would contest the Village Committee elections together.
Tipra Motha has previously raised concerns over the implementation of the agreement, particularly issues connected with the interests and rights of indigenous communities. The recent talks have therefore also carried significance beyond the immediate seat-sharing exercise.
NDA partners prepare for nominations
With the BJP Tipra Motha alliance now finalised, attention has shifted to candidate selection and nomination filing. Leaders have indicated that candidates from both parties, including joint NDA nominees where applicable, will begin the filing process.
The timing is important because the nomination deadline is only a day away. Both parties must now translate the broad political agreement into constituency-level arrangements across the TTAADC areas.
Meanwhile, the BJP had delayed filing nominations in several areas while negotiations with Tipra Motha were underway. Earlier reports showed that Tipra Motha had already begun filing nominations, while the BJP was waiting for the alliance discussions to reach a final shape.
BJP Tipra Motha alliance faces a key tribal poll
The BJP Tipra Motha alliance will now campaign together in an election that could shape grassroots politics across Tripura’s tribal areas. The alliance also includes the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), with Chief Minister Manik Saha previously saying the NDA partners would jointly contest the Village Committee polls.
For Tipra Motha, the contest comes after its strong performance in the 2026 TTAADC elections, when it won 24 of the council’s 28 seats. For the BJP, the joint contest provides an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the tribal areas through a coordinated NDA campaign.
Overall, the seat-sharing agreement removes a major hurdle for the alliance ahead of the September 28 polls. The detailed formula, however, remains the next key announcement as both parties move quickly to complete nominations and begin their election campaign.