Agartala, April 6 (AHN) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday asserted that people are increasingly aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to its development-driven agenda, while sharply criticising opposition parties ahead of the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections.

Addressing an election rally at Dasda Bazar in North Tripura in support of BJP candidate Shailendra Nath, Saha said the party’s guiding principle is “nation first, then party, and finally the individual”, contrasting it with parties like the Tipra Motha Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), which he claimed prioritise individuals or party interests over the nation.

“In this TTAADC election, the Tipra Motha Party must be reduced to zero. There is no difference in policy between the All India Trinamool Congress and Tipra Motha,” he said.

Highlighting the BJP’s growth, the Chief Minister said the party, founded in 1980 with the involvement of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has risen from having just two Members of Parliament to leading the country for three consecutive terms under PM Modi.

Calling the 2026 TTAADC elections significant, Saha said the BJP is set to contest 28 seats in the council, describing it as a historic move. “For years, politics dominated the TTAADC without meaningful development. The communists, who once claimed strong electoral dominance, have now lost public support,” he said, alleging corruption during the long tenure of Left rule in the state.

Saha also appealed to voters to ensure a decisive victory for BJP candidate Shailendra Nath from the Dasda-Kanchanpur constituency in the April 12 polls.

Referring to local issues, the Chief Minister said he has taken up concerns related to displaced Bengalis in Kanchanpur with Home Minister Shah, expressing hope for a permanent solution soon.

Drawing parallels with West Bengal politics, Saha alleged similarities between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Tipra Motha, and claimed that incidents of political violence have increased since the BJP announced candidates for 28 seats. “Reports of attacks, including on party workers and properties, have emerged from around 40 locations. The situation mirrors that of West Bengal,” he said.

The rally was attended by local leaders, including party MLA Jadab Lal Nath, North District BJP President Kajal Kumar Das, and other party members.

The 30-member TTAADC, comprising 28 elected representatives and two members nominated by the state government, is scheduled to go to the polls on April 12.

Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), BJP’s ally, has governed the strategically important council, which administers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km geographical area.

Ahead of the upcoming TTAADC polls, major political parties, including the BJP, TMP and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), as well as opposition parties such as the CPI(M) and Congress, have intensified efforts to consolidate support among tribal voters. Both the TMP and the IPFT are tribal-based regional parties.