Senior BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP Rebati Tripura has returned to his teaching profession, taking a break from active politics. Mr. Tripura has joined Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Higher Secondary School in Agartala as a post-graduate teacher in the political science stream.

The indigenous leader, who was a critic of Tipra Motha Party founder and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and the latter’s style of politics, did not find a senior position in the recently restructured State committee of the BJP. He was one of few tribal leaders who helped the saffron party grow organisation in hills and interior tribal communities.

Understanding with party

Mr. Tripura was not re-nominated in the East Tripura (ST) constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as BJP was desperate to keep the seat in its fold. The party nominated Kriti Devi Debbarman, who made her debut in politics as part of an understanding with the Tipra Motha Party founder.

She was elected mainly due to the backing of the Tipra Motha Party, which had already made a surge in the State’s tribal political arena. The Lok Sabha results also paved the regional party’s entry into the coalition government, but the party repeatedly gave crushing blows to the BJP in the tribal autonomous district council elections.

Mr. Tripura, who served as an MP from 2019 to 2024, continued his criticism of the Tipra Motha Party while senior leaders of the BJP have adopted a guarded criticism. He, however, did not publicly oppose the BJP for its alleged hobnobbing with Tipra Motha.

Published - August 03, 2026 12:21 am IST