A section of BJP workers and supporters staged a road blockade at Bir Chandra Manu Manpathar Bazar in Tripura’s Santirbazar subdivision on Wednesday, demanding immediate action against those allegedly involved in an election-related violence incident.
The protest was a continuation of Tuesday’s agitation, when BJP supporters had blocked the road and set a deadline for the authorities to arrest the alleged accused. As no arrests were reported by Wednesday, the protesters resumed their agitation, accusing the police and administration of failing to act on their demands.
The protesters questioned the role of SDPO Bapi Debbarma and alleged that assurances given during Tuesday’s protest had not been followed by effective action.
The agitation soon expanded beyond the demand for arrests, with protesters expressing dissatisfaction over the BJP’s alliance with TIPRA Motha. They called for the removal of the two TIPRA Motha ministers from both the NDA alliance and the state Cabinet, saying the matter should be taken up with the BJP’s central leadership.
According to the protesters, the alliance arrangement had created resentment among sections of BJP workers in the tribal areas. They alleged that party workers who had worked for the BJP for years were being subjected to humiliation and discrimination.
The protesters also linked the issue to the functioning of the TTAADC, arguing that steps were needed to restore peace and ensure the council functions smoothly.
Several protesters alleged that the recent political developments were creating divisions between tribal and non-tribal communities. They also claimed to possess information relating to the recently concluded elections which, according to them, could have serious implications if brought into the public domain.
The blockade disrupted traffic in the area for several hours, prompting BJP leaders to intervene. Following appeals from a BJP MLA and Mandal-level leaders, the protesters eventually withdrew the blockade.
However, the end of the road blockade did not immediately resolve the dissatisfaction among the protesters. Some BJP workers claimed they had not received justice despite remaining associated with the party for years. A section even said they would stop participating in BJP activities.
The workers, however, maintained that they continued to respect the BJP and its ideology and would return their party flags to the local BJP office rather than discard them.
The latest protest comes against the backdrop of allegations of violence and clashes following the recently held Village Committee elections, in which the BJP-led NDA recorded a significant victory.
In North Ekchhari Village under the Amarpur Assembly constituency, a BJP Budh Mandir Shakti Kendra office was allegedly vandalised and set on fire after the election results were declared. TIPRA Motha won seven of the nine seats in the village, while BJP-backed candidates secured the remaining two.
The incident subsequently triggered questions among BJP workers over the attack on the party office and the circumstances surrounding it. BJP booth president Tarani Chakma reportedly spoke to the media regarding the alleged incident.
Meanwhile, another episode involving TIPRA Motha MLA Nandita Reang added to the political tension. During a visit to her area in connection with the joining of an independent candidate into TIPRA Motha, local residents reportedly staged protests and raised “Go Back” slogans. The MLA subsequently took shelter inside a house amid the situation, according to reports.
The incidents come at a sensitive time for Tripura’s tribal politics. TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma’s recent announcement about stepping away from active politics has already prompted speculation over the future course of the party and its alliance with the BJP.
While the BJP-TIPRA Motha alliance remains intact at the leadership level, the latest developments suggest that dissatisfaction among sections of the grassroots workers could pose a challenge to the alliance’s functioning in the tribal areas.
