AGARTALA | TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has urged the Tiprasa community to remain united and field honest, educated and capable candidates in the upcoming Village Council (VC) elections in Tripura.

In a Facebook Live on Monday, Debbarma welcomed the State Election Commission’s announcement of the elections, saying the polls would give people an opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights after a gap of nearly 10 years. “It was a long battle, my Tiprasa people. It was not an easy fight. I went to the Supreme Court and fought the case,” he said, referring to the legal efforts preceding the announcement of the elections.

Debbarma appealed to teachers, professors, retired government officials, former defence personnel and other qualified people to contest the polls and take responsibility for the development of their villages. He also cautioned political leaders against choosing candidates on the basis of corruption, family ties or personal relationships.

“This is your election. Your voice is paramount here because this election reaches right down to the village level,” he said. Debbarma said elected Village Councils should have a greater say in decisions concerning funds meant for village-level development, rather than such decisions being controlled by MLAs, MDCs or political party leaders.

He also reiterated his position on a possible political alliance, saying he would not enter into an alliance until the constitutional rights promised to the Tiprasa community under the Tiprasa Accord were granted. “I will not form an alliance until our people are granted the constitutional rights that were promised to us in the Tiprasa Accord,” he said.

Calling for “Thansa”, or community unity, Debbarma said the idea should extend beyond electoral politics and focus on the future of the next generation. He said the VC elections could also set the tone for the 2028 Assembly polls, urging the community to prioritise its rights and interests over party affiliations, money and political positions.

“If we remain united, we will get our land rights, our political rights, our funding, our language,” he said.Debbarma also called upon young and educated members of the community to enter electoral politics and work for long-term development.

“Stand! Stand! No one can defeat you,” he said, urging voters and prospective candidates to focus on the broader interests of the community rather than immediate political gains.