Guwahati: Two days after “Biplab Hatao, BJP Bachao (Remove Biplab Deb, save BJP)” slogans were raised against Tripura Chief Minsiter Biplab Deb by party supporters, he said he is “deeply hurt” and would take a decision on continuing in his post based on people’s mandate.
Addressing a press conference Tuesday evening, Deb said he would accept whatever decision is taken by the “common people” and that he only wishes to work for the development of the state.
He appealed to the people to meet him at the Astabal Grounds in Agartala Sunday (13 December) to decide whether he should continue to be the CM.
“I want to hear it from the people. Next Sunday, I would go to Astabal Maidan, and I would request all people to join me there and tell me what to do. Whatever you say, I shall accept it and present it before the High Command as the decision of the people of Tripura,” Deb said.
The sloganeering against Deb was reported Sunday during the visit of BJP’s newly appointed national secretary and central observer for Tripura Vinod Kumar Sonkar. Sonkar later claimed that all is well within the party.
‘Let public decide’
The chief minister said Tripura has made rapid progress in all sectors since he assumed charge in March 2018. He highlighted the developmental works under the BJP-led government including “education, infrastructural development with Rs 11,000 crore project under NHIDCL, ICP, Logistics Hub, high-rise buildings, smart city, new airport, agricultural growth of 13.9% that places Tripura first among northeastern states”.
“Even in the midst of (the) coronavirus pandemic, Tripura has not lagged behind in economy. Our positivity rate is only 1.29% and recovery rate is 98%. Some had raised fingers on our healthcare system. But with time, things have been proved wrong. I have worked irrespective of caste, creed, religion or party,” he said.
Deb expressed his gratitude to the people of Tripura and said he would never forget that it is with their blessings that he became the chief minister and a legislator, adding that “the view of some is not the voice of the people”.
“People of Tripura have given me everything. I never imagined to become the CM. My only mistake, perhaps, is that I want to work. Time is limited. People have elected me for five years. The development of Tripura has been my only aim. There are many challenges — changing a 40-year-old system (Left governance) takes time, but I have tried. I follow Prime Minister Modi’s system.”
Stating that he would “never compromise or will tolerate any wrongdoing”, Deb asked people with folded hands: “Should I stay or should I go? Let janata (public) decide.” However, he did not discussed the need to follow Covid-19 protocols or maintain social distancing during the mass gathering.
In October, Deb faced dissent when a group of rebel Tripura BJP MLAs, led by former health minister Sudip Roy Barman, went to Delhi to meet senior party leadership demanding his ouster. Sources in the dissident camp had told ThePrint there was growing dissatisfaction and anger in the state and within the party against Deb’s “dictatorial style of governance”, administrative inefficiency in healthcare besides “a range of issues”.
The BJP and its alliance partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) together won 44 out of 60 seats in the state legislative assembly that ended 25 years of Left rule.
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No no, pls you have to stay. This country and Tripura deserves a CM like you. We are on our way to being permanently ruined, when India starts eating cow dung in poverty you and the BJP cannot jump ship midway screaming Nehru.