Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, supremo of TIPRA Motha Party (TMP) said the outcome of the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) will determine whether Tripura will have a tribal chief minister after the 2028 Assembly elections.
The election schedule for the TTAADC has not yet been announced, while the current tenure of the tribal council is set to end on April 20.
Addressing a party rally in Killa, Debbarma said the results of the council polls would influence the possibility of a tribal leader becoming the chief minister of the state after the next Assembly elections.
He alleged that a “secret deal” exists between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Chief Minister Manik Saha, claiming that the chief minister is too weak to protect the rights of indigenous communities.
Debbarma also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken tribal institutions and alleged that funds meant for village committees have not been released. He claimed that elections for village committees have not been held for several years, which he said has slowed development in tribal areas.
The TMP leader further alleged that the BJP would spend significant resources to win the tribal council elections, but urged voters not to be influenced by money power.
Calling on people to support his party, Debbarma said the upcoming elections are crucial for protecting the rights and future of the indigenous population of Tripura.
