Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly and senior CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of allowing drug trafficking to flourish in the state for political gain.
Speaking at the state conference of the All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA), Chaudhury alleged that the narcotics trade had been turned into a “political project” by the ruling party to retain power. He claimed that the BJP was aware it could not return to office through free and fair elections and had therefore allowed anti-social elements to operate freely, especially those involved in drug-related activities.
The CPI(M) politburo member further alleged that a large number of people arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had close links with the ruling party. According to him, “nine out of ten” of those arrested in NDPS cases were seen in photographs alongside senior BJP leaders in the state. He claimed this indicated political protection being extended to criminal networks involved in the illegal drug trade. 
Raising questions over the legitimacy of the last Tripura Assembly elections, Chaudhury said the outcome did not reflect the true mandate of the people. He alleged that if elections had been conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, only a small fraction of the sitting MLAs would have been able to retain their seats. He added that public dissatisfaction with the BJP-led coalition government was steadily increasing.
Chaudhury also pointed to what he described as unexplained accumulation of wealth by certain individuals in the state. He claimed that some people had suddenly become affluent, surprising even their neighbours, despite not being engaged in any profession that could justify such income.
