Agreement first, alliance later: TIPRA Motha to BJP in Tripura
Times of India | 22 August 2026
Agartala: Ahead of a scheduled meeting between senior netas of BJP and its ally TIPRA Motha in Agartala on Friday, TIPRA chief, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, reiterated that his party would not enter into a seat-sharing arrangement with BJP unless the Centre gives a written commitment on implementing the tripartite agreement signed ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections.
Tripura power minister Ratan Lal Nath is scheduled to hold talks with a TIPRA delegation led by minister Brishaketu Debbarma, MLA Ranjit Debbarma, former Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council chief executive member Purnachandra Jamatia and incumbent CEM Runiel Debbarma.
The meeting comes amid tensions between the allies over the implementation of the tripartite agreement ahead of next month’s ADC Village Committee elections.
Sources said BJP’s central leadership has asked Nath to initiate talks with Motha and resolve the differences. Debbarman, meanwhile, held a meeting with party officials in Shillong on Thursday to discuss the elections.
After the meeting, he reiterated the party’s position: “Agreement first, alliance later.” He said the interests of Tripura’s indigenous population would not be compromised for ministerial roles or other political gains. Motha may contest all 587 Village Committee seats independently if no agreement is reached with BJP.
The meeting scheduled for Friday in Agartala aims to address the tripartite agreement and explore the potential for coordination between the two parties regarding the Village Committee elections.