Agartala, February 16, 2026: The partner party Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has publicly expressed dissatisfaction over the role of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in the ongoing Roman script controversy, describing the issue as extremely sensitive and closely linked to the emotions and identity of the tribal community.

Addressing the media, IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma said that confusion and dissatisfaction surrounding the Roman script issue have persisted in the state for a long time. He warned that unless the matter is resolved permanently and with sensitivity, no government can sustain itself in power for long. Drawing a parallel with the past, he claimed that the Left Front government had earlier failed to continue in power partly because it did not take a clear and firm stand on this issue.

Swapan Debbarma emphasized that the Roman script is not merely a linguistic matter but one that is deeply rooted in the cultural emotions of the tribal population. Given the sensitivity of the issue, he opined that the Chief Minister should refrain from making public comments on it. He further added that since Chief Minister Manik Saha’s mother tongue is Bengali, it would be more appropriate for him to exercise restraint and allow the concerned stakeholders and tribal representatives to address the matter.

The IPFT leader reiterated that any statement or action on the Roman script issue must be taken with utmost care, keeping in mind the sentiments of the tribal community, and called for a long-term, amicable resolution to avoid further unrest and political instability in the state.