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TMP chief Pradyot targets BJP over council renaming, Kokborok script issue
Apr 06, 2026A fresh political rift has emerged ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, with Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, supremo of the TIPRA Motha Party, strongly opposing the BJP’s proposal to rename the council.
The controversy began after Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha unveiled the BJP’s election manifesto, which proposed renaming the TTAADC as the “Tripura Autonomous Territorial Council (TATC)” if the party returns to power.
Addressing a public gathering in Ampi, Gomati district, Debbarma criticised the move, alleging that it seeks to remove the word “Tribal” from the council’s identity, something he termed unacceptable and detrimental to the indigenous Tiprasa community.
“I totally disagree with the promise and will not compromise with the poor Tiprasa people,” he asserted.
The TMP chief also targeted the BJP over the use of Roman script in its manifesto, linking it to the ongoing debate surrounding the script for the Kokborok language. He accused the party of inconsistency, pointing out the contrast between its stated opposition to Roman script and its use in official campaign material.
The BJP currently governs Tripura in alliance with the Tipra Motha Party and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). However, all three parties are contesting the upcoming TTAADC elections independently, highlighting growing political divergence within the alliance.
Framing the election as a critical moment for indigenous identity, Debbarma claimed that the Tiprasa population now stands at around 15 lakh out of the state’s total population of 42 lakh. He warned that defeat in the council polls could lead to an “existential crisis” for the community.
Calling for unity, he urged voters to prioritise community interests over party affiliations. He further alleged that the electoral contest would be shaped by a struggle between the BJP’s “money power” and the rights of the indigenous people.
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