In the quiet hills of Tripura, politics is no longer just about leaders and parties it’s about the lives of the tribal people who feel promises made to them are slipping away. The ruling alliance of the BJP, Tipra Motha, and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) is now struggling to hold together, with tensions spilling out into villages.
The trouble first showed itself in Asharambari, Khowai district. All the BJP supporters assembled to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat. But the peaceful gathering turned violent when attackers disrupted. Days later, another BJP worker was beaten in Sepahijala. Chief Minister Manik Saha called these incidents “violent and undemocratic” and urged police to take strict action.
Tipra Motha, led by former royal Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma, the unease comes from frustration. The party was born in 2021 with the demand for a “Greater Tipraland” and quickly became the main tribal voice by sweeping the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections. In 2023, it joined hands with the BJP after signing a tripartite accord with the Centre and the state government, which promised solutions to tribal land, cultural, and economic issues.
The progress is not going good “What is the point of being part of the government? We left the demand of Greater Tipraland but nothing has been done,” said Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma recently, reflecting the mood of impatience among many tribals. Although Pradyot softened the statement, he admitted the anger is real. The party has now planned a demonstration in Delhi to remind the Centre of its commitments.
The immediate flashpoint is the long-delayed village committee elections under the TTAADC. Without elected bodies, local governance has weakened, leaving important development funds unused. The Supreme Court has now asked the state and the Election Commission to explain the delay, bringing fresh pressure on the government.
Meanwhile, the IPFT — once in decline — has revived its demand for a separate Tipraland state. For the BJP, which holds only four of the 20 reserved tribal Assembly seats compared to Tipra Motha’s 13, this makes the situation even more challenging.
In the hills, ordinary people are watching closely. For them, the politics of power means something very personal — who will safeguard their land, their identity, and their future. The coming village elections may decide not just the balance of power, but the faith of the tribal people in the promises made to them.
