Tripura VC Polls: BJP-IPFT-TIPRA Motha to fight as one
Sep 05, 2026
In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming Village Council elections, the ruling BJP, TIPRA Motha and IPFT have decided to contest the polls together, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha announced on Saturday.
Soon after returning from Delhi, Dr Saha on Saturday said that the three parties would work together in the forthcoming VC elections.
The announcement followed a crucial meeting in New Delhi involving the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and TIPRA Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.
The alliance assumes considerable political importance as the BJP and TIPRA Motha had contested the 2026 TTAADC elections separately. TIPRA Motha emerged as the dominant force in those polls, winning 24 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP secured four.
The upcoming Village Committee elections are scheduled for September 28 across the tribal areas, covering 587 Village Committees and 4,597 seats. Counting will take place on October 5. The elections are particularly significant as they are being held for the first time in nearly a decade.
At the centre of the latest political understanding is the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement signed in March 2024. The agreement seeks to address issues concerning indigenous communities, including land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture and language.
Land rights have remained a particularly sensitive issue for TIPRA Motha. The party had previously maintained that any electoral understanding with the BJP would have to be accompanied by assurances regarding the protection of indigenous land rights in the Sixth Schedule areas.
Following the Delhi meeting, assurances were reportedly given that the provisions of the 2024 accord would be implemented in phases, with steps relating to land rights expected to begin next month. The process is to be pursued within the constitutional framework while safeguarding the interests and sentiments of all communities.
