Agartala, April 21 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, has instructed law enforcement to implement strict measures against individuals responsible for the post-election violence that erupted after the announcement of results from the crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Following the declaration of TTAADC election results on April 17, numerous violent episodes were reported across various regions of the state.

The elections, conducted on April 12, saw the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), a coalition partner with the ruling BJP, successfully maintain its leadership of the council for a consecutive second term.

The 30-member TTAADC consists of 28 elected representatives and two state government-nominated members, governing nearly 70% of Tripura’s 10,491 sq km area, making it the second most significant constitutional entity in the state after the Assembly.

During a meeting with BJP workers and supporters affected by the violence at a hostel in Agartala, the Chief Minister emphasized that such acts of violence would not be tolerated.

“Today (Tuesday), I will convene a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other senior officials to assess the current situation,” he stated.

Speaking to the press, Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, affirmed that threats, violence, and intimidation would not deter the BJP. He reiterated the party's dedication to maintaining peace, democracy, and the rule of law.

“The support of the people remains our greatest strength,” he remarked. Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2018 and 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, the Chief Minister highlighted that efforts were made to move past political vendettas and restore tranquility in the state.

“However, certain factions persist in employing violence to assert their dominance. The state government is resolute in taking severe legal action against anyone undermining law and order,” he declared.

Saha assured that prompt measures would be implemented to guarantee rehabilitation and security for those impacted by the violence.

“According to the Tripura Recovery of Damages to Public Property Act 2021, those accountable for damages to public property will face consequences, with compensation being collected and distributed among affected families,” he explained.

In a Facebook announcement, the Chief Minister revealed that 258 families would receive assistance in the initial phase.

“An allocation of Rs 64.50 lakh has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to provide them with aid and support,” he noted.

Previously, the state BJP president, Rajib Bhattacharjee, also visited party workers who had been displaced due to violence allegedly instigated by TMP activists.

He reported that several hundred BJP supporters were left homeless in various parts of the state following the results announcement.

Bhattacharjee, who is also a Rajya Sabha Member, confirmed that the Chief Minister would host a high-level meeting to review the circumstances. He further accused TMP supporters of vandalizing the home of BJP candidate Abhijit Debbarma from the Jirania constituency in West Tripura, including an attack on his parents.

The BJP leader visited the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Hostel in Agartala, where victims of the violence have sought refuge, assuring them that all necessary actions would be taken to ensure their safe return as soon as possible.

In the wake of the results announcement, TMP leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma urged party members to avoid violence.

“Our focus should be on combating external threats, not internal conflicts. If one community fights another, it harms us all,” Debbarma, a former royal figure, stated to the media.

The TMP, a partner in the BJP-led coalition government, won 24 out of 28 seats in the TTAADC elections, while the BJP secured only four seats.

After failing to achieve an electoral agreement, the BJP and its two tribal-focused allies—TMP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT)—contested the April 12 TTAADC elections separately.

Since 2021, the TMP has governed this strategically vital council, recognized as the second most prominent constitutional and political institution in Tripura after the state Assembly.