CPIM has been claiming a closed-door understanding between the BJP and Tipra Motha since its formation around five years ago.
In a striking development that reinforces the Opposition CPIM’s long-held allegation, Tipra Motha leader and Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Chief Executive Member Purna Chandra Jamatia on Tuesday claimed that the BJP’s return to power in the 2023 Assembly elections was possible only because Tipra Motha contested 42 seats, thereby dividing non-tribal votes to the BJP’s benefit.
The remark is politically significant as it does not come from the Opposition but from the BJP’s own NDA ally Tipra Motha — a party that during the election in 2023 had contested against the BJP and later joined the ruling coalition post-election. CPIM has been claiming a closed-door understanding between the BJP and Motha since its formation around five years ago.
Speaking at a press conference during a joining programme in Agartala, Jamatia said Tipra Motha’s decision to field candidates in 22 additional non-traditional constituencies outside the tribal-dominated ST belt played a decisive role in the election outcome.
When asked whether this strategy was intentionally designed to help the BJP, their direct opponent, Jamatia refrained from giving a direct answer but firmly stood by his claim.
“The BJP could retain power in 2023 because Tipra Motha contested 42 seats,” he reiterated, in the presence of Minister of State (MoS) Brishaketu Debbarma.
Echoing the sentiment, elected MDC Hangsa Kumar Tripura added that the BJP secured several seats only due to the division of votes among Tipra Motha, the CPIM, and Congress.
The TTAADC Chief’s comments come at a sensitive moment for the NDA alliance, coinciding with the defection of 21 BJP leaders to Tipra Motha. MoS Brishaketu Debbarma said the new entrants would significantly bolster the party’s organisational strength and predicted a tough challenge for the BJP in the upcoming TTAADC polls.
Responding to recent BJP claims that Tipra Motha’s influence is shrinking, Jamatia insisted the opposite is true.
“Tipra Motha will disappear by 2026 — that is far from reality. We won 18 seats last time, and later increased to 19. This time, we aim for 25 to 26 seats,” he said.
His comments directly rebut BJP Janajati Morcha general secretary Bipin Debbarma’s assertion earlier in the day that Tipra Motha’s ‘expiry date’ in the TTAADC ends in January 2026.
Jamatia also highlighted financial constraints in the council, noting that despite contributing over 83 per cent of Tripura’s rubber production, the TTAADC receives no GST share from it. “We get only Rs 1 crore for school education and Rs 6 crore for PWD,” he said, alleging systemic deprivation.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders intensified their criticism of Tipra Motha, accusing the party of rapidly losing ground in tribal areas and resorting to violence out of fear of losing control of the TTAADC.
As both sides escalate their war of words, Jamatia’s endorsement of the Opposition’s view has widened the rift within Tripura’s ruling alliance — signalling a volatile political landscape ahead of the TTAADC elections.
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