Agartala, March 13: Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday responded to ongoing speculation about the possibility of a tribal Chief Minister in Tripura in 2028 if Tipra Motha comes to power in the next Assembly elections.

Speaking to journalists after a Core Committee meeting at the state headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Agartala, the Chief Minister said that in a democracy people are free to express their views and make political claims.

However, he remarked that such discussions were rarely heard during the period of Communist rule in the state. “Today, in a democratic environment, many things are being said. But during the Communist era, such political statements or claims were never voiced,” he stated.

Dr. Saha also pointed out that political developments and new parties have emerged in recent years, adding that parties like Tipra Motha were not present during that earlier period.

His remarks came in response to questions from journalists regarding recent speculation about whether a leader from the tribal community could become Chief Minister in 2028 if Tipra Motha secures power.