Tripura VC polls are set to enter a crucial phase as senior leaders of the BJP and Tipra Motha are expected to meet in New Delhi on September 4 to discuss a possible electoral understanding for the upcoming Village Committee elections.
The talks come just days before the September 8 deadline for filing nominations. With both parties preparing for the polls, the proposed meeting could determine whether they contest jointly or continue with separate electoral strategies.
Delhi meeting may shape alliance strategy
Chief Minister Manik Saha and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma have travelled to Delhi, while Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma and Minister of State Brishaketu Debbarma are also expected to take part in the discussions.
Ranjit Debbarma said the meeting is likely to focus on the Village Committee elections and the broader alliance between the two parties. He added that senior leaders from the Centre may attend, although the exact composition of the meeting was not known to him.
The proposed talks are significant because BJP and Tipra Motha are already partners in the Tripura government. However, the two parties have maintained separate political positions in several matters, including the recent TTAADC elections.
Tripura VC polls face alliance deadline
The timing of the discussions is important for the Tripura VC polls. The State Election Commission has scheduled voting for September 28, while counting will take place on October 5. Candidates can submit nomination papers until September 8, followed by scrutiny on September 9 and withdrawal until September 11.
The elections will cover 587 Village Committees, 2,634 constituencies and 4,597 seats across the tribal council areas. Nearly 9.62 lakh voters are eligible to participate, making the exercise a major grassroots electoral contest in the state.
The committees’ previous tenure ended in March 2021. However, elections were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent legal complications. The fresh schedule has therefore revived political activity across the TTAADC areas.
Tipra Motha keeps agreement as key condition
For the Tripura VC polls, the central issue in the alliance negotiations remains Tipra Motha’s demand for implementation of commitments under the tripartite agreement involving the Centre, the Tripura government and the party.
Ranjit Debbarma reiterated that Tipra Motha would not enter an alliance unless the government fulfils those commitments. He also argued that indigenous communities in Tripura should receive constitutional safeguards comparable to those available to communities such as the Karbi and Bodo groups in Assam.
This position could influence the outcome of the Delhi discussions. While the BJP has not publicly announced a final arrangement, negotiations between the two sides have continued ahead of the nomination deadline.
BJP reviews poll preparations
The Tripura VC polls have also prompted the BJP’s central leadership to review its organisational preparedness in the state.
BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh recently visited Tripura with senior party leaders, including Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, co-coordinator Rajiv Babbar and Tripura in-charge Rajdeep Roy. The BJP state leadership described the visit as an organisational exercise, while party sources said preparations for the Village Committee elections were also assessed.
BJP state president Abhishek Debroy has said discussions with Tipra Motha are continuing and that details would be made public if an agreement is reached. Meanwhile, Tipra Motha has activated its election machinery and authorised its MLAs and members of the district council to oversee the nomination process.
Polls set to test BJP Tipra Motha coordination
The September 4 meeting could provide greater clarity on the direction of the Tripura VC polls. A pact would allow the ruling partners to coordinate their electoral efforts in the TTAADC areas, while a failure to reach an agreement could lead to separate contests.
For now, Tipra Motha has indicated that it remains prepared to contest independently if its conditions are not addressed. Therefore, the coming days are likely to be decisive as the nomination deadline approaches.
The September 28 election will ultimately test the grassroots strength of both parties and their ability to manage differences while remaining partners in the state government. The Delhi talks are expected to be an important step in determining that political equation.
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