Election mood has set in the state of Tripura as BJP’s ‘first Chief Minister’ in the erstwhile
Marxist bastion, Biplab Deb, tendered his resignation on Saturday.
Polls are due early next year in three northeastern states of Nagaland and Meghalaya besides Tripura.
Under Deb’s leadership as state unit chief, the BJP had won the 2018 polls ousting the Manik Sarkar-led Communists regime.
On Saturday, May 14, Biplab Deb submitted his resignation to Governor S N Arya.
“Party wants me to work to strengthen the organisation,” he mere said giving his first reaction to the move.
There were demands for replacing Deb last year as well.
The resignation follows reports of infighting although senior BJP leaders deny anything such.
Senior BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister, and Vinod Tawde are already in Tripura, sources said.
Deb might have taken the decision to quit after his meeting with senior party colleagues.
BJP’ state in-charge Vinod Sonkar and two observers will attend the meeting of BJP legislature party later in the day to elect a new leader.
In Tripura, BJP’s ally for 2018 was the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), which had won 8 of the mainly tribal seats. It had contested only 9 seats. The Lotus party had contested the remaining 51 seats and had managed to win 36.
Biplab Deb who visited party president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah for the last two days
returned to Agartala on Saturday.
Dr Manik Saha, who is Rajya Sabha MP and is not a member of the Tripura legislative assembly, is being considered as a replacement, a source said.
Another name- Pratima Bhoumik, Union MoS is also being considered.
