Agartala, Sept 3:
With the Village Council (VC) and Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections approaching, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), an ally of the ruling BJP in the state, on Wednesday asserted that it is fully prepared to contest any upcoming polls.
Addressing a press conference after a review meeting of the party’s central committee, IPFT General Secretary Swapan Debbarma said the organization has already completed much of its groundwork and is confident of its readiness. “We have not yet reached a final decision on whether we will contest the elections alone. But as of now, the IPFT is fully ready for any electoral challenge,” he said.
Debbarma clarified that while IPFT continues to remain an ally of the BJP, the question of whether to fight independently, in alliance with BJP, or in coordination with TIPRA Motha remains open. He stressed that the matter is under consideration and a final call will be taken at an appropriate time after consulting with party leaders and workers.
The central committee’s review meeting reportedly discussed strategies to strengthen the organization at the grassroots level, particularly in tribal-dominated areas that fall under the TTAADC. The leadership emphasized the need to reconnect with people through the party’s core demand for safeguarding the rights and identity of indigenous communities.
In this context, Debbarma highlighted the success of IPFT’s recent program marking Tipraland Statehood Demand Day on August 23. According to him, the event evoked a massive response from indigenous people across the state and demonstrated that the demand for greater autonomy and recognition remains alive among the tribal population. Calling it “historic,” he said the turnout reflected the trust people still place in IPFT’s long-standing political agenda.
While the BJP has been working to consolidate its tribal base and Tipra Motha continues to dominate the TTAADC areas, IPFT’s positioning ahead of the polls is being closely watched. The upcoming elections are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future political alignment in Tripura’s tribal belt, where alliances may determine electoral outcomes.
