Ahead of the upcoming Village Committee (VC) elections in Tripura, senior leaders of the BJP and Tipra Motha Party are expected to hold a high-level meeting in New Delhi on September 4 to discuss a possible alliance and electoral strategy.

Leaders of the Tipra Motha Party have already left for the national capital following instructions from party founder and former royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma.

Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma said he and Minister of State Brishaketu Debbarma are expected to attend the meeting.

“Today, Maharaja Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma asked us to go to Delhi. There is likely to be a meeting tomorrow. I and MoS Brishaketu Debbarma will attend. We are hopeful about the meeting,” Debbarma said.

He added that while the exact agenda and participants were not yet known, the meeting was expected to focus on the upcoming VC elections and a possible BJP-Tipra Motha alliance. According to him, Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma is also expected to be present, while Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha may attend the discussions.

However, the Tipra Motha MLA made it clear that the party would not compromise on the implementation of the tripartite agreement.

“We are standing by our agreement. The government has to fulfil the commitments made under the tripartite agreement. Without this, we will not enter into any alliance,” he said.

Debbarma further argued that if the indigenous communities of Assam, including the Karbi and Bodo people, can receive constitutional and political rights, similar rights should also be ensured for the indigenous people of Tripura.

“This is a constitutional right. If they are getting their rights, then why not the indigenous people of Tripura?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, the Tripura State Election Commission has announced that elections to the Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council will be held on September 28, with counting scheduled for October 5.

The Tipra Motha has also begun the nomination process for the VC elections. Debbarma said the party had authorised its MLAs and MDCs to oversee the process and had been prepared for the polls.

“From today, we have started submitting nomination papers for the VC elections. We have also authorised our MDCs and MLAs, as we were already prepared and the nomination process is underway,” he added.

The proposed Delhi meeting is therefore expected to be crucial in determining whether the BJP and Tipra Motha move towards an electoral understanding ahead of the September 28 Village Committee polls.