Hokutwisa (Dhalai district, Tripura), April 9: Intensifying the political battle ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, TIPRA Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Manik Saha, calling him “frustrated” and accusing sections of the state BJP leadership of attempting to engineer a split in his party.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a campaign rally at Hokutwisa ground in Longtharai Valley, Debbarma dismissed the Chief Minister’s recent remarks, suggesting they were driven by political desperation rather than facts. While maintaining a restrained tone, he said he would avoid responding directly out of respect for Saha’s age, but asserted that such statements reflect “frustration” within the ruling camp.
Escalating his criticism, the TIPRA Motha leader alleged that certain local BJP leaders are attempting to weaken his party to project political dominance. “There is an attempt by some local BJP leaders to break TIPRA Motha just to show that they can do politics without any alliance,” he claimed, hinting at internal power struggles within the ruling establishment.
However, Debbarma drew a clear distinction between the state and central leadership of the BJP. He stated that he does not believe the alleged efforts have the backing of the party’s national leadership. “I do not think the BJP leadership in Delhi is involved. This appears to be a local-level political game plan,” he added.
Reinforcing his party’s grassroots strength, Debbarma asserted that TIPRA Motha continues to enjoy growing public support, particularly in tribal-dominated areas. He argued that such support cannot be undermined through political maneuvering or attempts at division.
Taking a swipe at the BJP’s campaign narrative, he suggested that voters in Tripura are capable of distinguishing between consistent grassroots engagement and last-minute electoral outreach.
The remarks highlight the intensifying political friction in the run-up to the TTAADC elections, with sharp exchanges between TIPRA Motha and the BJP over influence, strategy, and credibility in the state’s tribal regions.
