Agartala: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced its candidates for all 28 seats of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), even as it received a major boost with several leaders from the Tipra Motha Party, including a sitting Member of District Council (MDC) and an Executive Member (EM), joining its ranks.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the party’s state headquarters by BJP Tripura Pradesh President Rajib Bhattacharjee, who said the party would contest all seats independently in the upcoming council polls.
“We have decided that we will field candidates in all 28 seats, and as per the party’s decision, we are declaring the names of candidates who will file their nomination papers within the next two days,” Bhattacharjee told media persons.
The decision marks a departure from the 2021 TTAADC elections, when the BJP had contested fewer seats under a seat-sharing arrangement with its ally IPFT. This time, the party has opted to go solo, without any alliance with either IPFT or Tipra Motha.
Bhattacharjee noted continuity, saying most of the sitting MDCs have been retained. “We won nine seats in 2021. The majority of the sitting MDCs have been given tickets, with only two changes in Machmara and Manu Chailengta constituencies,” he said.
Among prominent party functionaries in the fray are General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, Vice President Bimal Chakma, and Secretaries David Debbarma and Bhumika Nanda Reang. Notably, former Tipra Motha leaders Ananta Debbarma and Saudagar Kaloi have also been fielded as BJP candidates shortly after joining the party.
Earlier in the day, several Tipra Motha leaders, including TTAADC Executive Member Ananta Debbarma and MDC Saudagar Kaloi from Ampinagar, formally joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, and other senior leaders.
Other entrants included former Tipra Motha district president Rajesh Kumar Debbarma, Tashiram Reang from Damcherra, and Surjabasi Molsom, a former zonal chairman from Gomati district.
Addressing the gathering, Bhattacharjee said more leaders are likely to join the BJP ahead of the polls. “TTAADC elections are scheduled next month, and joining programmes are underway across the state. Several other leaders are also willing to come, and they will be accommodated in our party in phases,” he said.
He further added that the new entrants were inspired by the vision of “Viksit Bharat and Viksit Tripura,” emphasizing that the development of indigenous communities remains central to the government’s agenda.
Referring to the recent state budget, he said special emphasis has been laid on tribal development, including the protection of culture and infrastructure expansion in TTAADC areas.
Speaking after joining the BJP, Saudagar Kaloi criticized his former party, alleging corruption and deviation from core objectives. “The tribal people are still backward. We have been fighting for Tipraland and Greater Tipraland, but the main purpose behind these slogans should be development of the tribal areas. Instead of development, political tussle and power have become the primary objective,” he said.
He also alleged widespread corruption within Tipra Motha, claiming that several leaders were involved in malpractice and extortion in council areas.
Meanwhile, Bhattacharjee urged voters to support the BJP in the upcoming elections. “I urge the electorate of the TTAADC to cast their votes in favour of the BJP to establish a transparent and accountable council in the Sixth Schedule areas,” he said.
The TTAADC elections are scheduled to be held next month.