Agartala, August 21, 2025: Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman on Thursday appealed to the BJP’s Janajati Morcha for dialogue on common demands concerning tribal development.

The appeal carries weight as Tipra Motha’s meteoric rise in Tripura’s political landscape has largely come at the expense of BJP’s own tribal wing. The party had wrested control of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by defeating both BJP and CPI(M), pushing the latter out of power while relegating the BJP to the position of the second-largest force in the region. The 2023 Assembly polls further cemented Tipra Motha as a formidable challenger to BJP in the hilly areas.

Although the two parties forged a post-poll alliance ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections, grassroots-level friction between their cadres in the tribal belt has persisted.

Addressing his supporters on social media, Debbarman urged political unity beyond party lines for the larger cause of indigenous people. “We should learn from Nagaland. Despite having 20 tribes with diverse languages and cultures, they speak in one voice to the Centre. This is what we must adopt,” he said.

Debbarman revealed that he had already held discussions with BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, acknowledging that while differences remain—such as on the demand for Roman script and the proposal of an ADC police force—several key issues offer common ground.

He pointed to BJP’s manifesto commitments, including support for the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, direct funding for ADC, land rights for tribal communities, and the establishment of a Central University at Ganda Twisa. “On these matters, both BJP’s Janajati Morcha and Tipra Motha share similar views. If we join hands and approach the Centre unitedly, the results will be far better,” Debbarman asserted.