Tripura Congress MLA and former minister Sudip Roy Barman on Sunday expressed confidence that the BJP would lose power in the state in the 2028 Assembly elections, claiming that growing public dissatisfaction would work in favour of the Congress.

Roy Barman said the Congress would continue to fight elections on its own, unlike the 2023 Assembly polls when it had entered into an understanding with the CPI(M).

“Not every election is fought on the same issues,” he said, adding that the upcoming Village Committee elections would primarily revolve around tribal issues and local concerns, while the TTAADC and Assembly elections would have a wider political focus.

The Congress MLA also alleged that several of his party’s candidates were pressured to withdraw from the Village Committee elections. According to him, the Congress had prepared around 500 candidates, but nearly 250 allegedly withdrew their nominations following threats and intimidation. He further claimed that FIRs had been registered against some of them.

Roy Barman alleged that about 35 per cent of the seats had been secured uncontested by the ruling party, describing the development as a setback for democratic competition.

However, he said the outcome of the Village Committee elections should not be considered an indication of the 2028 Assembly results.

Claiming that dissatisfaction with the BJP government was growing across different sections of society, including unemployed youths, government employees, farmers and daily-wage workers, Roy Barman said a “silent support” was building for the Congress.

“People have seen the CPI(M) and BJP. Now they want Congress,” he said, predicting a major political shift in the state in 2028.