Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha criticizes CPI-M and Trinamool Congress for being disconnected from people and relying solely on social media after the TMC alleged BJP-backed vandalism at its Agartala office, escalating the state’s political tension.
In a sharp and pointed attack on the Opposition, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Friday accused the CPI-M and Trinamool Congress (TMC) of losing touch with the people of Tripura and relying only on social media activism to stay politically relevant. The Chief Minister’s remarks came in the wake of rising political tension following the alleged vandalism of the TMC’s state headquarters in Agartala earlier this week.
Addressing media persons, Saha said both the CPI-M and the TMC have become “disconnected from society” and have retreated from ground-level politics. “Sitting in their homes, they (CPI-M and Trinamool Congress) are only active on social media and imagining that they have won Tripura,” he remarked.
His comments came a day after a six-member delegation from the TMC in West Bengal arrived in Agartala to investigate the alleged attack on their state office. The delegation, comprising West Bengal Minister Birbaha Hansda, MPs Sushmita Dev, Pratima Mondal, and Saayoni Ghosh, along with party spokespersons Kunal Ghosh and Sudip Raha, filed an FIR with the local police alleging that BJP supporters vandalized their office while police “remained mute spectators.”
TMC’s Visit and Political War of Words
The visiting TMC team claimed they faced restrictions upon arrival at the Agartala airport. According to TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh, the police did not allow them to use their hired cars and delayed their movement to the city and party office. “We were forced to sit in protest for three hours before the police provided vehicles and escorts,” Ghosh said.
Following their visit, the TMC leaders met Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu and submitted a memorandum, condemning the alleged attack and demanding adequate security for their party workers in the state. They also held a meeting with Tripura DGP Anurag on October 8 to press for immediate action against those involved.
However, Chief Minister Manik Saha dismissed the allegations, saying the TMC’s visit was nothing more than a “political stunt” meant to provoke unrest. “Recently, a few TMC leaders came here from Kolkata along with a tribal woman leader, hoping that if something happens to her, they could use it to counter the attack on our (BJP) Lok Sabha member Khagen Murmu. This clearly exposes their mentality,” Saha said, accusing the party of trying to create drama for media attention.
“No Planned Attack,” Says CM Saha
Responding to the vandalism allegations, the Chief Minister said there was no pre-planned attack on the TMC office. Instead, he described the incident as a “sudden outbreak of anger” from local residents following the “deadly attack” on BJP’s MP and MLA in North Bengal. “No planned attack was carried out on the Trinamool party office. Police took prompt action and dispersed the protesters,” Saha clarified.
He further claimed that the Trinamool Congress office in Agartala “remains mostly deserted” and exists “only as a signboard.” The Chief Minister added that the BJP government handled the situation with maturity and prevented the Opposition’s attempt to instigate larger chaos.
Attack on CPI-M and TMC’s Political Strategy
Dr. Saha’s criticism was not limited to the Trinamool Congress. He also targeted the CPI-M, saying both parties have failed to engage with the people of Tripura and are surviving on outdated narratives and online propaganda. “They are confined to social media posts and imaginary victories. The BJP’s strength lies among the people, not behind computer screens,” he stated.
He predicted that the Trinamool Congress will soon lose power in West Bengal, claiming the party’s internal disunity and poor governance will lead to its downfall. “TMC’s politics thrives on publicity, not on public service. The people of West Bengal are losing faith in them, just as the people of Tripura already have,” Saha asserted.
BJP’s Message to the Opposition
With these remarks, Chief Minister Manik Saha sent a strong political message to the Opposition in Tripura. His statement underlined the BJP’s confidence in maintaining its grassroots support while portraying the CPI-M and TMC as disconnected elites.
| Also Read: Tripura TMC Office attack: Party seeks Governor’s |
As Tripura prepares for upcoming local and national political contests, the war of words between the BJP and the Opposition parties appears to be intensifying. The Chief Minister’s comments have reignited the political debate over who truly represents the voice of the people — the ground-level workers or social media campaigners.
