The Election Commission of India has agreed to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tripura, Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman announced after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner in the national capital on Wednesday. The move follows increasing concerns over the alleged inclusion of illegal immigrants in the state’s voter list.
Addressing the media after leading a party delegation to the ECI headquarters, Pradyot said the Commission had assured that the SIR exercise will take place not just in Tripura, but in all states. “The Commission listened carefully to our concerns. We were told that Tripura would definitely see a revision of its electoral rolls,” he stated.
The demand for a special revision gained traction in Tripura after similar steps were taken in Bihar, particularly in light of Tripura’s 856-kilometre border with Bangladesh, which the party alleges has enabled a steady influx of undocumented immigrants. Tipra Motha maintains that such infiltration has distorted the demographic profile of the state, leading to the marginalisation of its Indigenous population.
In a detailed memorandum submitted to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Tipra Motha Party alleged that many immigrants had obtained official documents such as voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and even passports through illegal means, often with the collusion of corrupt officials and intermediaries. The party claimed this has diluted the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and impacted fair political representation in the tribal-dominated areas.
The memorandum, signed by General Secretary Brishaketu Debbarma, Minister Animesh Debbarma, and CEM of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), demanded a door-to-door verification of the electoral rolls. The party proposed that the verification be carried out by officials brought in from outside the region, under strict oversight, to avoid manipulation or administrative lapses. Additionally, they sought proper training for the staff assigned to the process to ensure accuracy and impartiality.
While responding to questions about the ruling BJP’s stance, Pradyot reiterated that Tipra Motha is functioning as an independent political entity. “We are focused on safeguarding the interests of the Indigenous people of Tripura. It’s up to other parties to present their positions to the Election Commission,” he said.
On the status of the Tiprasa Accord, which formed the basis of Tipra Motha’s decision to join the state government earlier this year, Pradyot expressed dissatisfaction over delays in its implementation. “We joined the government based on the assurances given through the Tiprasa Accord. If those promises are not kept, we will have no choice but to reconsider our participation in the coalition,” he warned.
The party’s push for electoral roll revision is the latest in a series of political assertions aimed at securing demographic and political safeguards for the Indigenous communities in the state, a demand that has remained central to Tipra Motha’s agenda since its formation.
