Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman challenged the BJP-Tipra Motha alliance on implementing the 2024 Tripartite Pact. The opposition has alleged that the ruling partners are again invoking tribal aspirations ahead of the September 28 Village Committee (VC) elections in Tripura.
Key Takeaways
- Congress accuses the BJP and Tipra Motha Party of reviving the tribal agreement issue for electoral gains.
- Sudip Roy Barman questions the delay in implementing the March 2024 tripartite agreement.
- BJP, TMP and IPFT will contest the September 28 Village Committee elections as allies.
The Congress has stepped up its criticism of the BJP and its ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), ahead of September 28 Village Committee elections in the State.
The opposition party has accused the two allies of using the long-pending tripartite agreement to influence voters in the tribal areas of the state.
Congress MLA and former minister Sudip Roy Barman raised questions over the timing of renewed discussions on the agreement. He alleged that the BJP and TMP have repeatedly raised issues concerning indigenous communities around elections.
The controversy comes days after the BJP and TMP agreed to jointly contest the upcoming Village Committee polls. Senior leaders of both parties discussed the electoral strategy during a meeting in New Delhi on September 4.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the meeting. Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra and TMP chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma were also present.
Congress Questions BJP-TMP Poll Strategy
Roy Barman said the Congress had no objection to the BJP and TMP entering into an electoral alliance.
However, he questioned why the tripartite agreement was being linked to the poll arrangement.
The Congress leader alleged that the two parties have adopted a pattern of joining forces around elections while making fresh political promises to voters in areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
He also questioned the progress of the agreement signed in March 2024.
Roy Barman specifically referred to A.K. Mishra, the former interlocutor appointed by the Centre to facilitate negotiations between the stakeholders.
He asked where Mishra was and what progress had been made in implementing the agreement.
Two Years On, Congress Raises Implementation Issue
The Congress MLA recalled assurances made after the agreement was signed.
He said people were told in March 2024 that the pact would be implemented within six months.
Roy Barman argued that the promised timeline had passed long ago. He alleged that the agreement had yet to produce the expected results for the indigenous population.
The Congress leader also questioned the recent political activity surrounding the agreement.
He alleged that the issue had returned to the centre of political debate because the Village Committee elections are approaching.
According to Roy Barman, the timing raises questions about whether the agreement is being used to secure electoral support.
He challenged Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the Centre and the Tripura government to make the details of the recent discussions public.
The Congress leader demanded clarity on the specific demands discussed and the decisions reached during the latest round of talks.
Congress Highlights Its Tribal Demands
Roy Barman also outlined issues that he said the Congress has consistently raised for Tripura’s indigenous communities.
These include constitutional safeguards under Articles 275 and 280.
He also cited Article 371K and the proposed 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Another major demand involves recognition of the Roman script for Kokborok, the principal tribal language of Tripura.
The Congress leader said these issues require concrete action rather than election-time assurances.
He appealed to voters in the TTAADC areas to examine the claims of political parties carefully before making their choice.
Roy Barman urged voters to rely on facts and judgment rather than emotion.
He accused the BJP-TMP combine of attempting to use the aspirations of indigenous people for what he described as narrow political interests.
2024 Agreement Reshaped Tripura Politics
The tripartite agreement remains a significant issue in Tripura’s tribal politics.
The TMP signed the agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government on March 2, 2024, following prolonged negotiations.
Amit Shah and Chief Minister Manik Saha attended the signing ceremony.
The political landscape changed within days.
On March 7, 2024, the TMP joined the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura. The party had 13 MLAs at the time.
The move transformed the relationship between the BJP and TMP from political opponents into government partners.
Their alliance has since become an important factor in Tripura’s tribal politics.
BJP, TMP and IPFT to Fight VC Polls Together
The latest BJP-TMP coordination took place ahead of the September 28 Village Committee elections.
The September 4 meeting in New Delhi focused on matters concerning the state and the upcoming electoral contest.
After the meeting, Chief Minister Saha described the discussions as productive.
In a post on X, he said the leaders had discussed issues of mutual importance along with the development and welfare of Tripura’s people.
Saha later confirmed that the BJP would contest the Village Committee elections in alliance with the TMP and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).
The three-party arrangement gives the ruling coalition a coordinated electoral strategy for the tribal areas.
Tribal Vote Set to Face a Fresh Political Test
The Village Committee elections will provide an important test for the BJP-led alliance in Tripura’s tribal belt.
The partnership with the TMP carries particular political significance because of the party’s influence among indigenous voters.
For the Congress, the implementation of the 2024 agreement provides a key line of attack against the ruling alliance.
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The opposition is seeking to turn the delay over the agreement into an electoral issue.
Meanwhile, the BJP and its allies are preparing for a coordinated campaign.
With the September 28 polls approaching, the debate is likely to focus not only on local governance but also on the promises made to Tripura’s indigenous communities.
The competing narratives could make the tripartite agreement a central issue in the Village Committee election campaign.
