Tripura BJP seeks alliance with tribal parties for upcoming local elections

The ruling BJP in Tripura is initiating fresh negotiations with tribal allies, including the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), to form an alliance for the upcoming Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). Chief Minister Manik Saha is scheduled to meet TMP leaders in New Delhi to discuss a joint strategy. This move follows the BJP’s limited success in the previous TTAADC elections, where the TMP secured 24 of the 28 seats.

Simultaneously, the state government is facing significant political pressure regarding utility costs. Opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and Congress, have staged protests against high electricity bills and smart meter billing issues. In response, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced that the government is committed to addressing consumer grievances. He noted that while the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) is responsible for rate hikes, the government will examine complaints and may allow prepaid meter consumers to pay outstanding recharge amounts in installments to alleviate financial distress.