Speculation of post -LSpoll change in guard loom large in Tripura

By Special Correspondent,

Agartala, March 29:
With ruling Bharatiya Janata Party virtually divided in two factions, respectively led by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Union Minister of State Ms. Pratima Bhaumik for quite long time from now, strong speculations are in peak about a possible change in guard in Tripura post the Lok Sabha elections.

The rank and file of Tripura BJP, though apparently pulled up their socks to demonstrate a collective show ahead of the Parliamentary elections respectively slated for April 19 and 26, many of them are significantly silent and not going all out. Pradesh BJP insiders know the field political reality.

As sources claim, the Central Executive Committee of BJP has given a very calculative move by sending Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb back in Tripura politics and fielding him as candidate for West Tripura Parliamentary Constituency replacing the incumbent MP Ms. Pratima Bhaumik. The latter was a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister after 2023 Assembly elections in 2023 but as sources disclosed, Dr. Manik Saha categorically stated Central BJP Observers and Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah in the BJP Legislature Party meeting at Agartala that he would be in constraint to shoulder any key responsibility if Ms. Pratima Bhaumik given any berth in the Council of Minister. Because of such a bouncer even Mr. Shah was taken to astonishment and kept quiet.

As soon as such an obstinacy of Dr. Manik Saha came out to the top leaders of Tripura BJP, Ms. Pratima Bhaumik quickly resigned as MLA of Dhanpur Constituency necessitating another by-election and that ignited strong rivalry between Dr. Manik Saha and Ms. Pratima Bhaumik, sources pointed out. Many among the BJP leaders and ‘Karykartas’ believe that Ms. Pratima Bhaumik is extremely simple having attractive public relation at the grass root level as compared to Dr. Manik Saha.

The sources further added that, such an obstinate stand of Dr. Manik Saha was considered as a strong blow to Ms. Pratima Bhaumik and this very significantly brought Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb and Ms. Pratima Bhaumik politically nearer. In such a stage Ms. Pratima Bhaumik concentrated into mixing with people cutting across political lines and complying with the political assignments given to her in Assam and West Bengal.

Sooner she gained the confidence of central leadership and took herself to a position to bring loyalists of Biplab-Pratima faction into the key positions of Tripura Pradesh BJP Executive Committee and Core Committee. It is on record that close followers of Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb and Ms. Pratima Bhaumik importantly dominate the State Executive Committee and Core Committee.

BJP Central leadership had approved such committees sidelining the loyalists of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha as his organizational and administrative performance was assessed very poor. Moreover, having known the rivalry between two strong factions and strong anti-government resentment among the people within a short span of one year, the central BJP leadership opened many windows by sending Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb back to Tripura politics when his Rajya Sabha tenure would end in 2028.

After Mr. Deb was nominated as BJP candidate for West Tripura LS constituency, Ms. Pratima Bhaumik became very optimistic to be the BJP candidate for by election of Ramnagar Assembly constituency but the Central Election Committee preferred Mr. Dipak Majumder as party candidate for the assembly segment.

This decision of BJP’s CEC sparked strong speculation about the political future of Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb, Ms. Pratima Bhaumik and Dr. Manik Saha. His followers strongly believe that Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb would become Union Minister if BJP comes back to power. On the other hand, the followers of Ms. Pratima Bhaumik whisper that she would either go to Rajya Sabha or become Chief Minister of Tripura.

Likewise, Mr. Biplab Kumar Deb also eyes at becoming Chief Minister provided BJP does well in Haryana since he is party observer there. If such speculations come true, what would be the fate of Dr. Manik Saha? Sources pointed out that Dr. Saha might go to Rajya Sabha with either of Mr. Deb or Ms. Bhaumik taking the reign of Tripura. Opposition INDIA block is taking advantage of such speculations among the rank and file of Tripura BJP and trying to woo the voters.

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Anil Shukla Madhukar

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