Agartala, February 16: A sharp political confrontation has erupted between Manik Saha and Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, intensifying political tensions in Tripura ahead of the crucial elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) scheduled in two months.
The exchange followed Chief Minister Saha’s assertion that the BJP would sweep all 28 seats in the TTAADC, currently governed by the TIPRA Motha. He clarified that while the BJP shares an alliance with TIPRA Motha in the Assembly, there is no such understanding for the ADC polls. Saha also alleged that the present ADC administration had failed to deliver development and misused funds provided by the state government.
Responding sharply, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma—popularly known as Bubagra among the indigenous Tiprasa community—dismissed the Chief Minister’s claims and issued a political challenge. Addressing a gathering at Twidu in Gomati district, he declared that instead of capturing the TTAADC, the BJP should prepare for 2028, when, he claimed, a Tiprasa leader would capture Agartala and become Chief Minister.
In a pointed remark widely viewed as directed at Saha, Pradyot asked the crowd to choose between “Bubagra” and the Chief Minister. He emphasized his consistent engagement with the region, stating he had visited 15–20 times in the past five years, even outside election periods.
While maintaining that he shares cordial relations with the BJP’s central leadership, Pradyot hinted at differences with a few state-level leaders. He also laid the foundation stone for a ₹4 crore community hall for the Koloi community, urging unity among Tiprasa groups—Kaloyit, Jamatia, Debbarma and Reang.
The escalating war of words signals a high-stakes political battle that could reshape Tripura’s electoral landscape.
