Former MLA and Tripura Congress President Asish Kumar Saha on Saturday alleged that the BJP in the state is using the 125th Amendment Bill as an election tactic to win the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) election by making indigenous people fool.

Speaking after observing TTAADC Diwas in Agartala, Saha alleged that while the Congress had historically laid the foundation for the autonomous council under Indira Gandhi in 1984 and sought to empower it further during the UPA regime under Dr. Manmohan Singh, the BJP has failed to act on the amendment during its decade-long rule at the Centre.

 “For 11 years, BJP never raised the issue of the 125th Amendment Bill. Suddenly, just before elections, their leaders talk about it. This is nothing but a political ploy to fool the tribals,” Saha said.

The Congress leader accused the BJP of using tribal rights as a “vote bank tool” while neglecting genuine development. He cited the recent remark of Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma, who admitted that the government plans to push the Bill as an election issue.

Saha underlined that without direct funding, the TTAADC cannot achieve meaningful development, and charged the BJP with prioritizing electoral gains over indigenous welfare.

 “Congress empowered tribals in the past and will continue to fight for their rights under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. BJP, on the other hand, only remembers tribals during elections,” Saha added.

With the TTAADC election looming, the Congress is attempting to corner the BJP by portraying it as opportunistic and disconnected from indigenous aspirations—setting the stage for a fierce political battle in the tribal heartland.