Agartala, July 5: In a move that has stirred political circles across Tripura, BJP Lok Sabha MP and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb paid a surprise visit to Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma at the Ujjayanta Palace on Saturday evening. The meeting came just hours after senior Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma publicly threatened to withdraw support from the BJP-led state government over the delay in implementing the Tiprasa Accord.
While both leaders termed the meeting a “courtesy call” to wish Pradyot a belated birthday — his birthday was on Friday — the timing of the interaction has triggered intense speculation. The sudden outreach comes amid rising tensions between Tipra Motha and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s government over unfulfilled promises under the tripartite accord signed in March 2024, and continued concerns over illegal infiltration from Bangladesh.
According to sources, the closed-door meeting between Deb and Pradyot lasted over an hour, though neither side revealed details of their discussions. Political observers see Deb’s visit as an attempt at damage control, possibly orchestrated by the BJP’s central leadership to salvage the fragile alliance with Tipra Motha.
Ranjit Debbarma’s earlier remarks about a possible withdrawal from the alliance — and the indication that Tipra-backed MP Kriti Singh Debbarma may resign — have intensified pressure on the BJP to act. Pradyot himself has signaled growing dissatisfaction, skipping recent government functions and warning the Centre that the tribal population’s patience is “running out.”
Biplab Deb, known for his central connections, has previously played the role of mediator. His visit to the palace, a symbolic seat of indigenous leadership, is now being viewed as a critical effort to prevent a political rupture in Tripura ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
