Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Manipur Pema Khandu, Prem Singh Tamang and Nongthombam Biren Singh, among some other senior leaders also attend the swearing-in ceremony held here at Vivekananda Stadium.
Governor Satyadev Narian Araya sworn oath and secrecy to Saha and eight cabinet members. However, three ministerial cabinet berths remained vacant, according to sources, these would be occupied by members of the second party TIPRA Motha if they agree to enter the government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Dr Manik Saha’s swearing-in ceremony in Agartala on Wednesday. (ANI)
The BJP secured victory in 32 seats and its ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won one seat while TIPRA Motha won 13 of 20 reserved tribal constituencies and emerged as the main opposition by pushing back the ruling parties of the been for 50 years, CPM and Congress. In this election, both the CPM and Congress sealed a seat-sharing deal to fight against the BJP, but the left ended up with 11 and Congress with three seats in the 60-member House.
Dr Saha was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time in just 10 months of legislative policy after defeating Congress stalwart Ashis Kumar Saha from Bordowali constituency of Agartala by a margin of 1,257 votes. Saha replaced the current CM Biplab Kumar Deb last May, who had to resign following massive opposition within the party.
“I am engaged in the development of the state with any political considerations. I believe that in a democracy people have the right to vote for opposition parties and the coexistence of ruling party and opposition is the beauty of India, which has led to development and prosperity. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji we will lead Tripura into a model state,” Dr. Saha said after becoming CM.
Earlier, Saha had won the bypoll against Ashis Kumar by a margin of over 6,000 votes 40 days after becoming CM. The BJP gained the lost ground under Dr. Saha’s able leadership in six months and the anti-incumbent wave was basically arrested along with the factional strife, furthermore the development activities were also boosted.
However, Dr Saha was faced with a tough challenge in retaining the post of CM by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Emancipation Pratima Bhowmik. With the support of central leaders and PM Modi, Dr Saha became CM for the second time while Bhowmik failed to even manage a government post.
Three incumbent ministers in the outgoing cabinet, including two veteran BJP leaders – Prisons Minister Ramprasad Paul and Tribal Welfare Minister Rampada Jamatia – as well as Industries Minister Manoj Kanti Deb were barred from Saha’s cabinet despite winning the electoral battle due to their “poor performance”, BJP sources said.
On the other hand, senior leaders and ministers of the outgoing cabinet, Ratan Lal Nath, Pranajit Singha Roy, Santana Chakma and Sushanta Chowdhury, were administered the oath of office as cabinet ministers. Four new faces, including three first-time MLAs: Tinku Roy and Bikash Debbarma of BJP and Shukla Charan Noatia of the IPFT – apart from the second time the MLA Sudhanshu Das was introduced in the government.
Significantly, Dr. Saha has not held the position of Deputy CM and has not yet distributed the portfolio among the members. According to sources, the central leadership of the BJP persuaded TIPRA Motha to join the cabinet, but her boss, royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, did not agree to join until he received a written pledge for the constitutional settlement of their request. of Greater Tipraland.
Debbarma said he had received many calls from the BJP to join the government but turned them down to seek a constitutional solution to the tribal issues. She said: “I have made my position clear that if they cannot do anything about our request, then there will be no difference between TIPRA and IPFT. We want to end the misery of 14 lakh indigenous people, not two-three ministerial posts.”
