Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, chief of the Tipra Motha Party, on Sunday asserted that his party would capture the Tripura Legislative Assembly in 2028, issuing a direct political challenge to senior alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Without naming any party explicitly, his remarks were widely seen as aimed at the BJP amid reports of growing differences within the ruling alliance.
Addressing a joining programme at South Hadrai VC, Debbarman urged voters to reject parties that, in his words, “look down upon the indigenous people of the state.” He criticized leaders who, he alleged, become visible only during election season. “Some parties and their leaders try to attract the spotlight only during elections. For the last five years, I have toured every corner of the state and stood with the people in times of need. Leadership cannot be claimed in absence,” he said.
Responding to criticism from rivals, Debbarman claimed certain parties were making “big claims” about sending him to jail and attempting to capture land legally belonging to indigenous communities. He highlighted concerns over resource distribution in areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), stating that despite being rich in resources such as rubber and ONGC exploration sites, revenues are largely spent in Agartala and adjoining areas.
“The vote of a person in Agartala carries the same value as that of someone in a remote village, yet resource allocation is unequal,” he asserted. Confidently projecting the party’s future, he declared, “Bubagra will capture the Assembly in 2028.”
During the event, 150 voters from 30 families affiliated with various political parties joined Tipra Motha in his presence.
