Tipra Motha Party flags at a rally in Agartala in 2022.
On 25 Feb 2019, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma was appointed the President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee.[10][11] Within a few months, Deb Barma resigned from the Pradesh Congress President post, accusing the Congress high command of pressuring him to accommodate 'corrupt people'.[12] Almost three months later, he formed a social organisation to work for the rights of the indigenous people.[13]
TIPRA Motha contested the 2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly Election fielding over 42 candidates in different constituencies. The party won 13 seats and became the first regional party in Tripura to become the main opposition.[20]
TIPRA's main objective is the creation of a new state called 'Greater Tipraland' under the Article 2 & 3 of the Constitution of India.[2][22][14][23][24] The Motha emphasises Tipra nationalism, using the slogans "Puila Jati, Ulobo Jati" and "Puila Jati, Ulo Party" (Community first, party later).[3] It aims to first empower and emancipate the Tiprasa people before anything else. The party sees its activities as peoples' movement rather than a political one.[25]
In 2023, UnionHome MinisterAmit Shah accused the Tipra Motha of being allied with Congress and the CPI (M).[26] This was denied by Deb Barma, who claimed he could not be a communist ally due to his royal ancestry, being the son of the last King of Tripura.[26]
The result not only ended the Left Front’s 15-year rule of the council but also became the only regional party to come into power in the council without an alliance with a national party.[28]
Deb Barma and other party leaders addressing the crowd at a rally in 2022.
Deb Barma reaffirmed his earlier claim that the demand for Greater Tipraland would not be compromised at any cost and issued a stern call for victory in 2023. A massive gathering of thousands of indigenous people who travelled from all over the state to the Swami Vivekananda Stadium (Astabal Ground) complemented the term "Thansa." "Bubagra is not looking to argue. We abhor all forms of violence. We never oppose any group or faith. Our movement is to demand the rights that the Indian Constitution grants us, and we will succeed in our objectives, he continued.[29][30][31]
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