Agartala, March 19, 2026: With the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections drawing closer, indications of a strategic realignment have emerged as Tipra Motha Party (TMP) MLA Ranjit Debbarma on Thursday signalled a possible electoral alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even as backchannel discussions between the two sides are underway in New Delhi involving party supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and senior BJP leaders.

Speaking to reporters, Debbarma said that TMP supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma is currently in New Delhi holding discussions with senior BJP leaders, including BL Santosh and Sambit Patra, regarding a possible alliance.

“We believe that a joint contest in the TTAADC elections would be beneficial for both TMP and the BJP,” Debbarma said.

At present, TMP is a constituent of the Manik Saha-led coalition government in Tripura, headed by Chief Minister Manik Saha. However, the party is not part of the power structure within the tribal council.

The elections to the 28 seats of the TTAADC are scheduled for April 12, with counting slated for April 17. Debbarma informed that the party chief is expected to soon meet the BJP’s top leadership to finalise seat-sharing arrangements.

Reflecting on past performance, he noted that in the 2021 TTAADC elections, TMP secured a decisive victory by winning 18 out of 30 seats. In contrast, the BJP, which contested in alliance with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), managed to win only nine seats. Two additional members of the council are nominated by the Governor.

Addressing recent differences between the two allies, Debbarma downplayed the tensions, stating, “Such things happen in politics. Differences and cooperation go hand in hand. We believe that contesting the elections together is the need of the hour.”