Disconnected Leadership: BJP, Pitfalls in Delhi and Tripura

Poonam Sharma 

The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), led by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, achieved a landslide victory in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections held on April 17, 2026, by winning 24 out of 28 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure only 4 seats, as the TMP decisively outperformed the opposition, according to the State Election Commission.In the 2021 Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections held on April 6, 2021, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 9 seats, while an independent candidate won 1 seat. The Tipra Motha Party (TMP) won 16 seats, and its ally—the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT)—won 2 seats
The political scene in Tripura is changing quickly as Tipra Motha celebrates its historic win. The BJP, which used to seem unbeatable in the state, is now regrouping because its leaders have to deal with a wave of public anger and a string of electoral and administrative failures. The future of politics in Tripura and the BJP’s role in the state are both up in the air.

Questions About Leadership and Governance

People in Tripura are increasingly unhappy with the BJP-led government, which is led by Chief Minister Manik Saha. This is especially true among the indigenous people who live in the hills. Many communities feel ignored and neglected because years of promises have not led to much change on the ground. The administration’s failure to meet the needs and goals of these groups is a sign of a bigger problem with the government.

This isn’t just a small problem; it shows that the BJP has completely failed at both the state and central levels. The government’s lack of connection to real life and choose an appropriate grassroot leader  and unwillingness to deal with real problems have made people feel alienated. This shows that the party’s approach has not been able to build its presence or earn long-term trust.

Weakness in organizations and erosion of grassroots support

The results in Tripura make it very clear that the BJP is losing power in the state. The party’s unclear plans and lack of proper coordination have caused its grassroots support to fade away at both the state and national levels. What used to be a powerful political machine is now held back by fighting, bad communication, and not being able to get supporters to work together.

A lot of the blame has gone to Chief Minister Manik Saha, whose leadership has been criticized for making the party’s weaknesses worse and not getting people excited about it at the local level. People are so unhappy that calls for the government to be broken up are getting louder, and many people are openly calling for a change at the top.

More and more people want change.

People on the streets and in politics are clearly unhappy with the current government. People in Tripura want big political changes, like getting rid of Chief Minister Manik Saha. This demand is growing. Many people think that the government he leads has not dealt with basic problems of governance, development, and public welfare. The state’s inability to provide good leadership has made people lose faith in it and left them wanting a more responsive and active government.

BJP in Delhi: Not Ready and Out of Touch

People all over the country have noticed the problems in Tripura. Some uncomfortable truths about how senior BJP leaders in Delhi have run the state are now coming to light. People have criticized the party’s top leaders for not being able to choose good leaders and for not being in touch with the needs and feelings of the people of Tripura.

A string of public relations problems, such as accusations of corruption and authoritarianism, have made things worse. People who watch the BJP say that if it doesn’t change the way it handles tribal issues, governance, and media relations, it will lose more support and power. The BJP wants to be a truly national party that respects local needs and democratic values. Tripura is now a test case for this. The party has not passed that test yet.

Shadows of Scandal: Accusations and Media Censorship

The crisis gets worse because of the threat of criminal charges. A journalist has made serious claims that both Chief Minister Manik Saha and BJP leader are involved in various scandals . Even though these accusations haven’t been proven, the fact that they exist is a new and dangerous front in the BJP’s reputation crisis.

The journalist who wrote about these claims is now in jail, which is even worse. This raises serious questions about the state of press freedom and the government’s commitment to democratic values. A political analyst in Agartala said, “Even if these claims are false, the fact that a journalist is in jail for his work raises serious questions about the Manik Saha government’s behavior and the health of democracy in Tripura.”

Alternative Leader

In the middle of all this chaos, according to many sources a large number of people are looking to Pratima Bhowmik  or Biplab kumar deb as a possible chief minister. Supporters say that a new leader is needed to win back the trust of the people, improve the way the state is run, and better meet the needs of the people of Tripura. People want Pratima Bhowmik or Biplab Deb  because they don’t like how the current government has been doing things and want a leader who is more energetic, inclusive, and visionary.

A Party in Trouble: Why the BJP Failed

The government led by Manik Saha has caused more damage than just problems with running the country. Reports of harassment and random violence against BJP workers have shaken the party’s core. The central leadership’s choice to support people like Manik Saha (and before that, Biplab Deb, whose time in office was also marked by controversy and disappointment) has only made the crisis worse.

People have been very critical of Delhi’s BJP for not being able to put in place good leadership in Tripura. The chaos that has followed could hurt the party’s future in the state and as a national force.

What Lies Ahead for Tripura

Tripura is at a point of decision. In the next few months, we’ll find out if the BJP can fix its problems, regain the trust of the people, and reconnect with them, or if its decline will continue. There is still no doubt that the problems of bad leadership, fighting within the party, media censorship, and serious but unproven claims of criminal activity need to be answered honestly. This is important for the BJP and for democracy in Tripura.