Tripura's ruling Left Front has expressed its concern over the growing support of tribal communities for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT).
It has warned that such support might affect the peaceful co-existence between tribal and non-tribal citizens of the state.
Though the Left has retained control over the 30-seat tribal autonomous body, which includes two government nominated members, for a third consecutive term, the percentage of votes for it has gone down.
"Earlier, it was 64 percent, but this time we got about 54-point something votes. So, it is around nine percent votes less," said CPI (M) state secretary Bijan Dhar.
He warned that new forces are trying to polarize the tribal people along communal and ethnic lines by intensifying its campaign for a separate state and religion.
Of the 28 seats in the tribal council, the CPI-M won 25. Its allies, namely the Communist Party of India, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Forward Bloc won a seat each.
