The BJP-led ruling alliance in Tripura is trying to “fortify” itself after securing a slim majority of 33 seats in the recently-concluded elections for the 60-member Assembly.

The BJP and IPFT insiders told The Telegraph that they were hearing about “some discussions at the top level” to have the Tipra Motha on its side, both within and outside the Assembly.

They pointed to the overtures of senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma about being ready for talks with the Motha to address the grievances of the tribal populace “minus” the demand for Greater Tipraland, a separate state.

Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has also responded by saying it was open to talks on “constitutional solutions” if they were invited with respect.

“Some discussions have been initiated at the top level (on the Motha issue) but there is nothing formal. We don’t know when formal discussions with Motha will take place but our leaders through their overtures have sent the message that our government would want to address the problems of the tribal people because our party believes in sabka saath sabka vikas mantra,” a BJP leader said. An IPFT leader said a discussion was being “planned” with the Motha. “If they support us in whatever capacity, the Opposition voice will get divided. There is one-third tribal vote in the state and this section cannot be ignored,” he said.

The February 16 Assembly elections saw the BJP-IPFT alliance secure a second straight term with 33 seats, 11 less than in 2018.

Even the BJP-IPFT’s combined vote share this time (40.23 per cent) was less by over 10 per cent than what was secured in 2018 when the alliance ousted the Left Front government, which was in power for 25 years.

The Left Front (11) and the Congress (3) could win only 14 seats despite a seat-sharing arrangement, while the debutant Motha bagged 13 seats of the 42 it contested.

Motha upset the calculations of the BJP-IPFT in the 20 ST seats by winning 13 of them. By fielding candidates in 22 non-ST seats, they upset the Left Front-Congress arrangement.

The BJP-IPFT coalition government will be sworn in on March 18 in Agartala.

In attendance will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda.

The move to get the Motha on the side of the ruling alliance has been prompted by multiple factors. A political observer said the move suggested that the BJP had started thinking about the future.

“It was not an easy victory for the ruling alliance. They have a slim majority in the Assembly. To pass important bills, the ruling coalition will require a two-thirds majority (40), which they don’t have and which they want to ensure through the support of Motha,” he said.

“In the near future, we will also have the village council polls in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which is run by the Motha.”

“Then there is the crucial Lok Sabha polls next year. At least in East Tripura Lok Sabha seat, Tipra Motha, based on the Assembly result, will be a key factor. Having Motha on its side will help the BJP-IPFT fortify its government, help run the Assembly smoothly and also yield electoral dividends,” the observer said.

Ninety per cent of the tribal electorate voted for the Motha this time.

“Those who still choose to ignore the obvious need to wake up and face the reality,” Motha chief Motha has said in a Facebook post, underlining the Motha support among the tribal voters.

The BJP had won both the Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and would not want to lose any given how important each seat could become if renewed efforts at the national level to unite the Opposition yielded result.