BJP Wins Tripura, Ex Royal's Party Shines Amid CPM-Congress Setback

Incumbent BJP returned to power in Tripura today, winning the majority mark on its own. The BJP-led alliance's tally had dropped below the halfway mark after a brisk start, but picked up in the later rounds. While the BJP finished with 32 seats, its ally IPFT scored one. 

The Left-Congress alliance won 14 seats, a disappointing performance considering both parties had claimed they would register victory.

The big story of this election is Tipra Motha, led by former royal Pradyot Manikya Debbarma. The party, which was being seen as an x-factor in these polls, won 13 seats. 

While the BJP-led alliance's tally has dropped by more than 10 seats, the party's seat count has marginally dropped from 36 to 33. It is ally IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) that has been routed in this election, winning just one seat as compared to eight in 2018. The IPFT's dismal show points to a shift of tribal votes to Tipra Motha. 

The BJP had earlier reached out to Tipra Motha, but the talks fell through over the tribal-dominated party's statehood demand. 

The desperate move by the CPM and the Congress to join forces has not paid off. Both parties, which have suffered a massive erosion of support over the past few years, have put up a disappointing show. Its current tally of 14 is lower than the 16 seats won by the CPM in 2018, when it contested alone.  The Congress, however, will find some consolation in the fact that it has won 2 seats and is leading in one, after failing to bag any Assembly seat in 2018.