Following the landslide victory of Tipra Motha in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, both the Congress and the CPI(M) have alleged that the party exploited tribal emotions to mask its poor governance record. 

They also accused the ruling BJP of indirectly aiding Tipra Motha by alienating tribal voters during the campaign.

The final tally saw Tipra Motha winning 24 seats, the BJP securing 4, while Congress and CPI(M) drew a blank.

Tripura Congress President Asish Kumar Saha claimed that although his party fielded candidates in all 28 seats, they had anticipated no wins but an increase in vote share. 

He argued that the BJP’s strategy of attacking Tipra Motha during campaigning backfired, as tribal voters perceived those attacks as an assault on their own sentiments. 

“The BJP tried to win plain-area support by targeting tribal emotions, and that drove tribal votes straight to Tipra Motha,” Saha said. 

He added that the results followed a “blueprint from Delhi” and reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to fighting for indigenous rights. He also urged peace and harmony between tribal and non-tribal communities.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury acknowledged his party’s failure to win any seats but claimed the election environment was not fair. “Tipra Motha ruled the district council for five years without any performance or success. Yet, by playing on tribal sentiments, they have hidden all their failures,” Chaudhury said. He alleged that the ruling establishment helped Tipra Motha, adding, “People voted out of fear—‘we will loot, we will steal, but we must keep our hold (thansa),’ fearing someone else will take it. The BJP government is responsible for this outcome.”