Agartala, Mar 24: In a significant political development ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, several leaders from the Tipra Motha Party, including a sitting Member of District Council (MDC) and an Executive Member (EM), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. The induction took place at the BJP state headquarters, just hours before the party formally announced its list of candidates for the polls scheduled next month.
Among the prominent leaders who switched allegiance were TTAADC Executive Member Ananta Debbarma and MDC Saudagar Kaloi from Ampinagar. They were joined by former Tipra Motha district president Rajesh Kumar Debbarma, Tashiram Reang from Damcherra, and Surjabasi Molsom, a former zonal chairman from Gomati district. Notably, some of the new entrants have already been accommodated in the BJP’s list of candidates for the upcoming elections.
The joining programme was held in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, former MP Rebati Tripura, and other senior BJP leaders.
Addressing the gathering, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said that the party has been witnessing a steady influx of leaders ahead of the TTAADC polls. “With the elections scheduled next month, joining programmes are being organised across the state. Today, several prominent leaders from the TTAADC areas have joined the BJP, and more are expected to come in phases,” he said.
Bhattacharjee added that the new entrants were inspired by the vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “Viksit Tripura,” stressing that the development of indigenous communities remains central to the government’s agenda. Referring to the recent state budget, he noted that significant emphasis has been placed on tribal welfare, including cultural preservation and infrastructure development in tribal areas.
Speaking after joining the BJP, MDC Saudagar Kaloi expressed dissatisfaction with his former party. He said that while the demand for Tipraland and Greater Tipraland was rooted in the goal of tribal development, the focus had shifted away from public welfare. “Instead of development, internal conflicts and the pursuit of power have taken precedence,” he alleged.
Kaloi further accused certain Tipra Motha leaders of corruption, claiming that irregularities in TTAADC areas had reached alarming levels. “I have evidence to support my claims. Transparency is lacking, and accountability has diminished,” he said, adding that he remains committed to clean governance and development.
With the TTAADC elections approaching, the BJP appears to be strengthening its organisational base by inducting influential leaders from rival parties, signalling an intensifying political contest in the tribal council areas.
