Northeast Desk, 6th June: An analysis of the recent Lok Sabha election results in Tripura reveals that the BJP’s alliance with the tribal-based party Tipra Motha was instrumental in securing sweeping victories in both West Tripura and East Tripura constituencies.
The BJP not only retained these seats but also saw a significant increase in its vote share compared to the 2019 elections. In West Tripura, the BJP candidate’s vote share surged from 51.74% in 2019 to 72.67% in 2024. Similarly, in East Tripura, the party’s vote share jumped from 43.32% in 2019 to 68.48% in 2024.
BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee attributed this success to the alliance with Tipra Motha, stating, “The result shows that the party’s vote share increased in both Parliamentary seats.”
Rajya Sabha MP and former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb won the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, defeating his closest rival Asish Kumar Saha of the Congress by a margin of 611,578 votes, up from a margin of 573,532 votes in 2019. In Tripura East, Kriti Devi Debbarman, sister of Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Debbarma, won by defeating her CPI(M) rival Rajendra Reang by 486,819 votes, compared to a victory margin of 450,000 votes in 2019.
Tipra Motha, which joined the BJP-led government just nine days before the Lok Sabha elections were announced, has played a crucial role in this electoral success. The party, with 13 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, secured two ministerial berths in the coalition government.
Tipra Motha leader and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma emphasized the alliance’s impact, stating, “It was not possible for the BJP alone to win both Lok Sabha seats massively. We want the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to assume office shortly to implement the agreement signed with the party for the benefit of Tiprasa (indigenous) people.”
The tripartite agreement signed on March 2, involving the Tipra Motha, the Tripura government, and the Centre, aimed to address issues related to the history, land, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, and language of the indigenous people of Tripura.
This strategic alliance with Tipra Motha has significantly weakened the CPI(M)’s influence in the tribal areas of Tripura, which the party had dominated during its 25-year rule until 2018. The collaboration proved to be a decisive factor in the BJP’s impressive performance in the state.