ADC Poll Push: BJP Continues Hill Outreach
Gandacherra, Dec 6: With the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections drawing near, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues has its outreach programs in remote hill regions in the State.
As part of the initiative, a joining programme was held at Kananta Para under the 44-Raimavalley Assembly Constituency on December 5.
Party sources claimed ruling party, BJP garnered a significant political advantage as 360 voters from 120 Tipra Motha–affiliated families joined the party at the event.
The large-scale induction, viewed as part of BJP’s calculated strategy to strengthen its base among tribal communities, is being perceived as a crucial development in the run-up to the polls, political analysts opined.
According to local party leaders, driven by public trust in BJP’s development initiatives, peace, and transparent governance, janajati people of the State are increasingly aligning with BJP.
MDC Bhumikananda Reang, Raimavalley Mandal president Dhanya Manik Tripura, Mandal leaders Barna Das Mandal and Preeti Kumar Chakma, Youth Morcha Raimavalley Mandal president Sajal Mallik and other senior party representatives were present at the event, welcoming the new members.
Leaders addressing the gathering emphasised that the move reflects growing acceptance of the BJP among tribal households who, until recently, were largely aligned with regional political outfits.
“Today’s joining marks a decisive shift in support patterns across the hills”, BJP leaders claimed.
They observed that the party’s organisational network has been rapidly expanding across remote villages, hill settlements and interior ADC localities—driven by programmes focused on welfare delivery, connectivity improvement, and transparency in governance.
Speakers asserted that people now believe development and administrative services can reach the grassroots effectively under the current state and central leadership.
“This is not just a political shift; it is a shift of faith,” a party representative remarked, pointing out that BJP is emerging as the preferred platform for communities seeking progress over identity-based politics.
The fresh entrants expressed strong confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, stating that the party embodies the vision of a developed Tripura and a rising India. They also voiced gratitude to the government and the organisation for prioritising peace and inclusive growth.
Looking back:
Notably, the TIPRA Motha Party (TMP), led by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, registered a sweeping victory in the 2021 TTAADC elections, ousting the CPI(M) by winning 16 seats. The triumph not only displaced the Left but also pushed the BJP to the sidelines in the autonomous district council.
Riding on strong Janajati support, TMP later emerged as the second-largest party in the state during the 2023 Assembly elections, securing 13 MLAs in the 60-member Tripura Legislative Assembly. Despite its electoral rise, the party opted for a post-poll alliance with the BJP and eventually joined the state cabinet.
However, after its initial meteoric ascent, TMP has faced both internal disagreements and external pressure. Allegations of corruption within the ADC administration, inadequate employment generation, and a slowdown in development initiatives have gradually surfaced, denting the party’s image among sections of the tribal electorate.
During this period, the BJP intensified its organisational activities in the hill regions—an expansion that at times encountered violent resistance, allegedly from TMP supporters.
With both parties seeking to consolidate control over tribal belts, the upcoming ADC election holds critical significance and could set the tone for the 2028 Assembly polls.
If the current momentum of outreach by the BJP persists in effective manner, analysts believe the party may be well-positioned to reshape the electoral landscape in Tripura’s tribal-dominated areas.
