Mounting concerns over alleged demographic distortion and threats to Indigenous rights have prompted TIPRA Motha to seek immediate intervention from the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a comprehensive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across Tripura.
The regional party, spearheading tribal rights in the state, submitted a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday, pressing for urgent corrective measures. The party has flagged what it terms “significant demographic shifts”, which it claims are weakening the electoral voice of the Indigenous tribal population and allowing the inclusion of illegal immigrants in the official rolls.
“Tripura shares an 856-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh, much of which remains porous and inadequately fenced. The unchecked influx of undocumented immigrants has not only disrupted the socio-economic balance of the region but also threatens the democratic rights of the Indigenous tribal communities,” the party stated in its letter.
TIPRA Motha has urged the Commission to emulate the recent door-to-door verification model undertaken in Bihar to weed out irregularities in voter records. The party expressed particular alarm at the continued neglect of previous findings, which had pointed to large-scale irregularities.
The memorandum refers to a 2012 investigation that identified more than 1.48 lakh illegal voters in the state, figures that, according to the party, remain unaddressed despite specific recommendations by then Joint Election Commissioner Vinod Saxena.
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Pradyot Bikram Manikya, Founder of TIPRA Motha and Chairman of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), issued a stern warning:
“This is no longer just a Tripura-specific issue, it is a matter of national security, with serious implications for the democratic fabric of the country.”
The party’s appeal is rooted in anxieties among the state’s Indigenous communities, who fear disenfranchisement and marginalisation in their own homeland. To ensure transparency and neutrality, TIPRA Motha recommended that revision teams be drawn from outside the districts under review, minimising the risk of political interference.
“The risk of political misuse of flawed rolls will only increase if the revision process is delayed. Our appeal stems from the deep anxiety felt by the people of Tripura, especially Indigenous communities, about losing their political voice and identity in their own homeland,” General Secretary Brishaketu Debbarma said.
The party also called for extensive awareness campaigns, particularly in tribal regions, to ensure no genuine voter is left out of the updated rolls. It warned that delay or inaction would severely damage public trust in the democratic process.
The memorandum was signed by key leaders including Brishaketu Debbarma, Minister Animesh Debbarma, and Purna Chandra Jamatia, Chief Executive Member of TTAADC. It was accompanied by documentary evidence and newspaper reports from 2012 highlighting longstanding voter roll concerns.
Despite its sharp tone, the party reaffirmed its faith in the constitutional integrity of the Election Commission. It urged the Commission to act swiftly and decisively in the interest of national security and democratic fairness.
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