Chief Tipra Motha Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma. | Photo credit: ANI
Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya has clarified that he will not enter into any alliance in the upcoming Tribal Autonomous District Council elections scheduled for next month. However, he indicated that there should be a guarantee to protect the interests of the indigenous people if there was any political alliance in the future.
“Let me make it clear that I will not betray my own people. My alliance with the common and poor Tiprasa (indigenous) people is my strength,” he said in a video message on Monday (March 23, 2026).
Taking an indirect hit at the BJP leader, he complained that abuses had been leveled against him and his party during the last six months. The time has come to give a befitting reply to the critics through elections.
“We will win the elections next month. I appeal to the warriors of Tipras to set an example for the entire Northeast by remaining united and not falling prey to divisive forces,” he declared.
Pradyot issued the statement amid reports that his party is in talks with BJP leaders to contest the TTAADC elections. The news surprised many as Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha had repeatedly stated that the BJP would contest the elections on all 28 seats in the TTAADC and apart from the Tipra Motha seat.
Tipra Motha is currently ruling the TTAADC after its triumph in the 2021 elections. The party also performed spectacularly in the 2023 assembly elections and later joined the BJP-led government.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s junior partner in the coalition has announced that it will fight the election with or without the BJP. The minor regional party has announced a list of nine candidates for the TTAADC polls.
Published – 24 March 2026 04:35 IST
