Breaking: Manik Saha Becomes the New CM of Tripura

Digital Desk: Dr. Manik Saha was named Tripura's new chief minister after Biplab Deb resigned on Saturday. Saha is the state BJP president and a Rajya Sabha MP. He was a strong contender for the position. The decision was made during the BJP's legislative party meeting, which was attended by union minister Bhupendra Yadav and general secretary Vinod Tawde as central observers.

Notably, Tripura's former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb informed about his resignation to Governor SN Arya on Saturday. The shocking resignation comes ahead of state polls next year.

Deb announced after meeting the governor at the Raj Bhavan.

“Party is above all. I am a loyal worker of the BJP. I hope I have done justice to the responsibilities that were given to me -- whether it was BJP state president or Tripura Chief Minister. I have worked for the overall development of Tripura and to ensure peace for the people of the state,” Deb told reporters.

“To strengthen the base of BJP in the state, I need to work on grassroots level in various sectors. I should work as a common Karyakarta (party worker) rather than being in the position of Chief Minister to form BJP government again in the coming Assembly elections,” he said.

“The party wants me to work to strengthen the organisation,” said the outgoing chief minister.

On Tuesday, Deb had announced he would seek ‘public opinion’ on December 13 about his continuation as chief minister of the state as he was deeply pained when a gaggle of people chanted slogans like “Biplab Hatao, BJP Bachao (Unseat Biplab, Save BJP)” “Biplab Hatao, Tripura Bachao (Unseat Biplab, Save Tripura)” during the visit of BJP central observer (Prabhari) Vinod Sonkar on Sunday at a state guesthouse here.

“I want to figure for people as I even have not that much time. But I am deeply pained when people chanted the slogan on Sunday within the state guest house ‘Biplab Hatao, BJP Bachao’. I shall ask 37 lakh people of the state, on December 13, to hitch me at Astabla Maidan in Agartala to inform me what to try. I want to listen from people if they need me to be removed. If people want me to travel, I shall submit the report back to the party’s supreme headquarters likewise and leave,” Deb said before taking the harsh decision.

The party’s central leadership attempted to resolve the interior crisis and party national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and state BJP observer (Prabhari) Vinod Sonkar have asked Deb not to consider stepping down. 

He also said that the party would check out the matter of the slogan, which was chanted against the chief minister on Sunday.

Furthermore, state BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said that the opposition CPI(M) and Congress had brewed a conspiracy against the CM.

CPI (M) state secretary Gautam Das condemned the move of the chief minister and said it had exposed their (BJP’s) “internal feuds”.