Agartala, January 18:
With barely two months left for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, tensions within the ruling NDA alliance escalated sharply as TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Sunday launched a direct political attack on Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, asserting that money and political power would not be enough to defeat the indigenous Tiprasa people.
Addressing a large gathering at the Hrangkhawl Annual Conference held at Gangarai village under Jampuijala in Sepahijala district, Pradyot Debbarma also sent a strong message to New Delhi. Without naming individuals, he accused the BJP leadership in Tripura of functioning merely as “postmen,” claiming they only carry instructions from Delhi instead of representing the aspirations of the people of Tripura.
“Leadership that only delivers Delhi’s messages to Tripura is no longer needed. We need leaders who will take the voice of Tripura and the future of our children to Delhi,” he said, adding that the present BJP leadership lacks independent decision-making.
Drawing a sharp comparison, Pradyot said that while he was travelling to Delhi to raise the voice of the Tiprasa, other leaders travel only to return with instructions from the Centre. “That is the difference between a Rengpa (king) and postmen,” he remarked.
Issuing a direct challenge, he said, “I want to tell the Chief Minister—try whatever you can, but you cannot defeat us. In 2026, this Rengpa will lift the honour of the Tiprasa. No amount of money can silence people who are worried about their children’s future.”
Accusing the BJP of attempting to capture the TTAADC for political interests, Pradyot said TIPRA Motha is fighting not for power but for the survival, identity and rights of the indigenous community.
He criticised mainstream politics for focusing on religion, caste and external threats while ignoring core indigenous issues such as education, constitutional rights, language, Roman script and the future of tribal children. Appealing for unity beyond party lines, he urged indigenous communities to come together for the next generation.
Referring to the Mahabharata, he said numbers do not determine victory. “Truth, courage and unity matter. We are Tiprasa, and we will remain Tiprasa,” he asserted, concluding that only unity among indigenous people can secure their rights and future.
