Agartala: Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has announced that he will step away from active politics after next month, days after his party recorded a sweeping victory in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections.
Debbarma, who made the announcement in a Facebook Live address, said his decision was influenced by health concerns and the toll his political career had taken on his personal life. He said he would continue to remain involved in issues concerning the rights of the indigenous Tiprasa people even after leaving electoral politics.
The announcement came after Tipra Motha emerged as the dominant force in the Village Committee elections, which were held after a gap of 10 years following intervention by the Supreme Court.
Debbarma said the election victory belonged to the people rather than to any political party and urged the newly elected Village Committee representatives to work honestly for the development of their villages.
Recalling advice from his father, Maharaja Kirit Bikram Manikya, Debbarma said he believed it was time to leave politics while his political standing remained strong.
He said his political journey, which began in 2017, had helped bring different tribal communities together under a common Tiprasa identity. He urged Tipra Motha workers and younger leaders to remain connected with people and focus on development rather than political positions.
Despite announcing his withdrawal, Debbarma said he would continue to raise issues affecting the indigenous population and speak out against any injustice.
He also called on the Centre and the Tripura government to begin implementing the commitments made under the Tiprasa Accord, signed in March 2024 between the Centre, the state government and Tipra Motha.
Debbarma said Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Manik Saha had earlier assured the indigenous people of Tripura that implementation of the accord would begin after the elections.
“Time starts now,” he said, urging the governments to honour the commitment.
The Tiprasa Accord deals with issues concerning the constitutional, land, language, education, political and socio-economic rights of the indigenous population.
Debbarma also cautioned Tipra Motha leaders against compromising the interests of the community for political posts or positions. At the same time, he appealed for peace and social harmony between Tripura’s tribal and Bengali communities.
He said he would remain a “conscious keeper” of the Tiprasa people even after leaving active politics and would continue to speak whenever their rights were threatened.
A public meeting involving newly elected Village Committee chairpersons and Tipra Motha workers is expected to be held next month, where Debbarma is likely to formally bid farewell to active politics.
His announcement comes at a significant moment for Tipra Motha. The party has consolidated its position in the TTAADC areas through the Village Committee elections, while its founder is preparing to step away from day-to-day electoral politics.