Agartala, April 24: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on April 23 said the outcome of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections was “not worrisome” for the Bharatiya Janata Party, pointing to a sharp rise in the party’s vote share despite a limited seat tally.
The Tipra Motha Party secured a decisive mandate, winning 24 of the 28 seats in the council. The BJP won four seats but increased its vote share from 18.72 per cent in 2021 to 28.95 per cent in 2026. The regional party also recorded growth, with its vote share rising from 37.43 per cent to 54.95 per cent over the same period.
Addressing a press conference, Saha emphasised that the BJP had contested the elections independently, describing it as a first for a national party in the state’s tribal council polls. He said the results should be viewed in the context of the party’s expanding support base rather than seat count alone.
The Chief Minister noted that the BJP’s vote tally more than doubled, increasing from around one lakh in 2021 to 2.18 lakh in the latest election. “We are not frustrated with the poll defeat… we made attempts to win the hearts of the people,” he said, adding that the party had reached every village in the council areas during the campaign.
Saha also reflected on the state’s political history, pointing out that opposition parties had traditionally relied on alliances in tribal regions. He referred to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s association with the Gana Mukti Parishad and the Indian National Congress’s past alliance with the Tripura Upajati Yuba Samity.
Responding to criticism over financial assistance to victims of post-poll violence, Saha said ₹64.50 lakh had been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He described the amount as modest in comparison to the extent of reported damage across affected areas.
Alleging that the violence was orchestrated, the Chief Minister claimed it was intended to intimidate voters and deter support for national parties in future elections.
