Agartala: Three BJP MLAs of Tripura have sworn in as ministers in 42 months old Biplab Kumar Deb led BJP-IPFT government on Tuesday.
Besides, inducting 40 yrs old Business Administration graduate and most articulate youth icon Susanta Chowdhury, Deb included one of the oldest BJP men in Tripura Ramprasad Pal and dedicated BJP activist Bhagaban Das.
With the inclusion of three more, the strength of the cabinet rose to 11 against the option of 12 ministers.
Neither Chief Minister nor ruling BJP have clarified the reason for keeping a cabinet post vacant although, it’s alliance partner IPFT has been demanding one more minister in the cabinet. At present, BJP has nine ministers including two from scheduled tribes and IPFT has two ministers belonging to ST community.
While Pal elected from Suryamaninagar near Agartala and Bhagaban Das elected from Pabiacherra SC reserved seat of Unokoti district of North Tripura were also given berths in the cabinet.
Susanta Chowdhury won Majlishpur constituency, dominated by tribal and influenced by CPI(M) in the 2018 election in the first attempt in the electoral politics with a comprehensive margin and defeated senior minister of left front Manik Dey.
Susanta was known as a close aide of Sudip Roybarman who had been seeking the removal of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for more than a year. But two and half months ago Chief Minister was able to bring him back from the Sudip brigade appreciating his mesmerizing character to convince the youths and educated sections.
Allegedly, soon after the exit of Sudip Roybarman from the cabinet in 2019, Susanta had been suppressed politically in his constituency and at a point of time he had become hostile against Biplab Kumar Deb.
Similarly, Ramprasad Pal had been hostile since long when Biplab Kumar Deb became party president in 2016 despite Pal winning the support. Afterwards, he faced a critical time for getting nomination from Suryamaninagar and had continued to be isolated from the party.
A year ago, he also raised the voice against Chief Minister and party president in the same line as Sudip Roybarman. He has been aspiring to the post of party president for six months and reportedly, he was given assurance too but did not materialize.
Finally, with the direction of BJP central leadership Ramprasad Paul sworn-in as a minister in Biplab Kumar Deb cabinet. It seems, Pal is not happy with the reward of a minister and still he is aspiring for the post of president, as Pal believes he could do wonders for the party and organisation if gets a chance.
After getting the communication of his selection as a minister, Pal made a desperate and critical post on Monday night stating, “A section of officers and white collar employees are conspiring to defame the government and dislodge it. The cabinet pretends to be sleeping. On the other, taking advantage of ineligible leadership, the opportunists are doing business and making money at the
cost of our beloved party. The dedicated workers and supporters have been suffering but no one is there to take care of them.”
Meanwhile, controversy triggered after the swearing-in of Bhagaban Das as minister over his status of scheduled caste certificate. The Trinamool congress leader Subal Bhowmik alleged that Das has been possessing fake SC certificates and demanded to cease his membership and initiate enquiry.
He added, “The district magistrate had removed earlier his sister Mina Das from the post of Chairman of CPM run Kumarghat municipality after due enquiry for possessing fake SC certificate.
If his sister loses the post for a fake SC certificate, how can brother be a minister of the SC community.” However, no reactions from Bhagaban Das and BJP as well on the allegation of TMC.
