The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Tripura, announced on February 6 that it is exploring legal action against the state government. This decision stems from allegations regarding the illegal conversion of land under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) into a Nagar Panchayat.
The TTAADC, which covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura and is primarily inhabited by tribal communities, operates under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Upcoming elections for the TMP-led council are set for next month.
TMP founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma claimed that a government notification proposing the establishment of a Nagar Panchayat by reallocating parts of TTAADC land breaches the constitutional safeguards intended for tribal regions. He made these statements during a media briefing in Bishramganj, Sipahijala district, after discussions with local officials concerning land demarcation for the proposed Nagar Panchayat.
“The government cannot establish a Nagar Panchayat within district council areas. They are attempting to justify this through past election references, but that does not render it lawful,” Debbarma said. He emphasized that the TMP possesses official maps and documents to back its position, while the government relies on outdated records and data from previous elections.
Describing the initiative as a “forceful occupation” of council land, Debbarma expressed that while his party does not oppose urban development or the creation of Nagar Panchayats, it vehemently rejects any arbitrary conversion of tribal land that neglects legal protocols.
“Elections may come and go, but land cannot be appropriated illegally. People must be aware of their rights. We will pursue all necessary legal measures to uphold the law,” he asserted.
Debbarma reiterated that current laws prohibit the formation of Nagar Panchayats within Sixth Schedule areas and stated that the TMP is committed to pursuing all legal avenues to protect tribal autonomy.
In the 2021 TTAADC elections, the TMP emerged as the largest party, securing 18 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP obtained 10. The council has a total of 30 members, including two appointed by the governor.
Previously serving as the principal opposition in the 60-member Tripura Assembly with 13 MLAs, the TMP aligned with the BJP-led government in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and currently holds two ministerial positions in the state cabinet.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/tripura/story/tipra-motha-may-move-court-over-illegal-conversion-of-ttaadc-land-into-nagar-panchayat-1342403-2026-02-06?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-06 21:34:00
