Former Tripura Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of turning elections into a farce, alleging that the party is manipulating voter lists to suppress dissent and marginalize specific communities.

Speaking at a condolence meeting for the late Madhab Saha in Udaipur, Gomati District, Sarkar criticized the BJP government over rising prices, economic instability, and the falling value of the Indian rupee.

“Quality of life is deteriorating. The BJP, along with the RSS, is deliberately sowing divisions to prevent citizens from uniting against their anti-people policies,” Sarkar said. He alleged that minority communities, particularly Muslims, are facing systemic harassment, with Christians also targeted, and added that opposition voices are being silenced even in Parliament.

Highlighting concerns over electoral integrity, Sarkar said, “Since 2018, elections in Tripura have been manipulated, preventing people from freely choosing their representatives. The BJP and RSS sought to replicate this model across the country, but citizens are beginning to protest and resist. People are uniting against these injustices, and they will not accept a government that operates as a regime of loot and oppression.”

Sarkar also accused the BJP of misusing voter lists to undermine democracy, claiming that in states like Bihar, the party had allegedly removed the names of Muslims, Scheduled Castes, and economically weaker sections, especially those active in protests.

“Democracy is under threat when citizens are denied their right to vote, and opposition parties are denied a voice. This is a reality that the people of India are witnessing, and it is imperative that we resist these anti-democratic moves,” he added.