Agartala, October 12, 2026: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing the previous government of failing to improve people’s living standards despite having ample opportunities, while asserting that its political decline reflected the consequences of its inaction. He also announced plans to replace schools with zero enrolment in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas with residential schools.
While addressing at the inauguration and foundation stone laying of various projects from the Gitanjali Auditorium, Kumarghat, Unakoti district on Monday morning, Dr Saha criticized the opposition’s approach to governance, saying that hard work and tangible results were essential for development rather than making promises and engaging in endless discussions.
“There is no substitute for hard work. The previous government followed a path of talking about work without actually doing it, and that is precisely why its existence has now vanished,” the Chief Minister said.
Without naming former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, Dr Saha took a dig at opposition leaders, claiming that their political influence had diminished significantly. Referring to recent Village Committee (VC) elections, he said the opposition had secured barely 1.5 per cent of the votes.
He further alleged that opposition leaders, unable to establish their presence even in Agartala, were travelling to Delhi and engaging in activities aimed at attracting media attention and gaining national visibility.
According to the Chief Minister, the previous government had failed to utilise its opportunity to transform people’s living standards, resulting in its present political condition.
Meanwhile, highlighting the government’s plans to strengthen education in tribal areas, Dr Saha announced that more schools with zero student enrolment would be closed and replaced with residential educational institutions.
“We have already received approval for 21 Eklavya Model Residential Schools here. Twelve have already started, six will commence shortly, and the remaining ones will become operational as soon as possible,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government had identified several schools, particularly in ADC areas, where teachers were posted despite having no students. He indicated that continuing to operate such institutions was not a viable option and that a restructuring plan was being prepared.
“We have decided to close down such schools and replace them with residential schools. The file processing is already underway, and we will plan our future actions accordingly,” Dr Saha said.
He added that the proposed residential school model would be part of the government’s efforts to strengthen educational infrastructure and improve access to schooling in remote areas.
The announcement signals a possible restructuring of the education system in the ADC region, with the government seeking to consolidate institutions with zero enrolment and expand residential schooling facilities.