Agartala, Aug 11: Can BJP reclaim hills in Tripura is the big question doing rounds ahead of the crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections next year.
As the TTAADC poll ensuing, a six-member delegation of the BJP Janjati Morcha of the State met BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh in New Delhi on Monday.
The meeting comes amid growing concern within the party over the expanding influence of Tipra Motha Party (TMP) — a coalition partner in the state government but also the BJP’s primary rival in the ADC.
In the last council elections held in 2021, the BJP finished second after TMP wrested power from the CPIM and has since been functioning as the opposition in the tribal body.
Janjati Morcha leaders, including former MP Rebati Tripura, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, MLA Rampada Jamatia, Leader of Opposition in the TTAADC Bimal Chakma, and state BJJM chief Parimal Debbarma, briefed Santosh on the state’s political climate and organisational matters.
Rebati said the discussions revolved around strengthening the party structure and addressing internal appointments.
Meanwhile, a widespread discontent among the grassroot workers was reported in several media especially, after the proposed August 9 rally of the Janjati Morcha on the World Indigenous Day had been postponed reportedly at the intervention of the central leadership.
The TMP conducted State wide rallies which BJP’s Janjati Morcha workers helplessly observed.
Party insiders admit the tribal wing has been in a state of near-paralysis since the 2023 Assembly elections, despite the BJP winning seven Scheduled Tribe-reserved seats.
Janjati Morcha received a rude shock in the last Lok Sabha Polls when the then MP Rebati Tripura, known as strong critique of the TMP, was dumped paving way for TMP supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma’s recommended candidate, Kriti Debbarma of Chhattisgarh who fought on BJP ticket with full support from the TMP.
Dissent among the Janjati Morcha was since then palpable, yet reasons best known to BJP State and central leaders, never heard. In contrast, it appears that saffron leaders are more keen to expand the influence of TMP at the cost of its tribal wing, opined a senior journalist of the State.
Moreover, with no major outreach programmes or grassroots mobilisation, the Janjati Morcha has largely become a token presence, even as Tipra Motha has maintained a relentless public contact campaign.
Analysts point out that TMP has been able to project itself as the vocal defender of tribal interests — often criticising the BJP-led government on key issues — while benefiting from the political space left vacant by the BJP’s inactivity in the hills.
The TMP is even claiming credits for different tribal welfare programmes launched by the Central Government.
In view of emerging political situation in Tripura especially in the tribal dominated areas, political observers say, today’s meeting with BL Santosh assumes a lot of significance for the future of the Janjati Morcha in the State.
The big question is whether the Janjati Morcha go whole hog to reclaim its ground competing against the TMP.
