Political Strategies of BJP in Tripura: An Analysis

Abstract

Political strategy refers to a deliberate plan designed to secure the supremacy of a political party in one or more states, with the objective of attaining and maintaining formal control over significant systems, such as society, community, or organisations. The BJP-IPFT alliance became victorious in the 2018 Tripura Assembly elections by securing 44 out of 60 seats, thereby ousting the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which had been in power in the state for a period of 25 years. In the 2013 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to secure any parliamentary seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) displaced the primary opposition parties, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC), and toppled the ruling Left government. The BJP-IPFT combination emerged victorious in the 2023 Tripura assembly elections, securing 32 seats and successfully establishing a second-term government. Their victory came at the expense of the Left-Congress alliance and Tipra Motha. These triumphs have established a significant milestone in the political landscape of North East India and have also ensured the formation of state governments in multiple additional states within the area. Examining the political tactics employed by the BJP in Tripura is essential because of the varied context it presents in the North East region of India. Therefore, the paper aims to understand the political strategies of BJP in Tripura.