Agartala, January 18:Amid growing tensions within the ruling NDA alliance partners BJP and TIPRA Motha, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Saturday asserted that the BJP is the first national party in the state to have the courage to directly enter tribal-dominated areas and interact with indigenous communities — an initiative that, he said, is now receiving a positive response.
Without naming any ally, the Chief Minister also remarked that while development does not require “preachers,” it certainly needs “good and troublefree partners” to ensure a congenial atmosphere for progress.
Dr Saha made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the newly constructed building of Madhu Chowdhury Para XII School in Mohanpur and virtually inaugurating Tarapur XII School, Gopalnagar XII School and Berimura XII School. The main inauguration programme was held at the Madhu Chowdhury Para XII School premises.
The Chief Minister said that earlier he was prevented from entering several tribal areas and interacting with the local population. However, the situation has now changed, and communicating directly with indigenous communities about the developmental initiatives of the double-engine government.
“Earlier, I was not allowed to enter those areas. Now I am going randomly, meeting people directly and informing them about the development works being carried out by our government. People are not only listening but are also trying to understand the facts and identify who misled them earlier,” Dr Saha said.
He claimed that before the BJP came to power, no national political party had dared to reach grassroots levels in tribal-dominated TTAADC areas.
“Other national parties never went to that level. They never had the courage to enter those areas. We are going there with confidence, and now people are realising what the double-engine government is actually doing for them,” he added.
According to the Chief Minister, lack of direct engagement in the past created space for misinformation.
“If you do not stay connected with people, others will fill that gap and create false impressions. Now we are going wholeheartedly. When I speak to them eye to eye, I can feel that they want to listen. They are comparing what they heard earlier with what they are hearing now and trying to understand the truth,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether indigenous communities were misled earlier, Dr Saha said direct contact was deliberately prevented in the past.
“Yes, they were misled because nobody approached them. I was not given the opportunity to enter those areas earlier — that was their motto,” he said.
The Chief Minister stated that his recent visits to TTAADC areas have yielded encouraging results, reinforcing the importance of direct interaction.
“Without meeting people directly, we cannot understand their needs. But for that, a peaceful and congenial environment is essential so that everyone can work together for development,” he said.
Earlier, addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony, Dr Saha said that before 2018, Tripura witnessed little development in key sectors such as education, health and infrastructure.
He claimed that significant progress has been made over the past few years, reflected in frequent inaugurations across the state.
“The more development we can bring for tribal communities and backward sections, the fairer the competition will be. They will become the architects of our future,” the Chief Minister said.
His remarks come at a politically sensitive time, with the TTAADC elections approaching and differences within the ruling alliance increasingly visible, making political stability and coordination crucial for the state’s developmental roadmap.
Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Lefunga BAC Chairman Ranbir Debbarma, Vice Chairman Budhu Debbarma, Hejamara BAC Vice Chairman Nihar Ranjan Debbarma, Education Director N. C. Sharma, and other dignitaries were present as distinguished guests at the event.
