Agartala: Principal opposition party of Tripura, TIPRA Motha party on Thursday got two ministerial berths in Tripura cabinet led by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma and MLA Brishaketu Debbarma have been sworn in as members of the state council of ministers.
Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan on Thursday morning. However, the portfolio distribution to the new ministers is yet to be done.
“Very shortly the portfolios would be distributed among the newly appointed ministers. We have been saying that all of us have to work cohesively for the development of Tripura. I hope the new ministers shall also play constructive roles in the state’s development,” Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha told reporters after the oath-taking ceremony. The Chief Minister left for Kolkata after the event.
Newly appointed Minister in the state cabinet Animesh Debbarma said, “The roles may have reversed but the responsibilities remained the same. When I was the Leader of the Opposition, it was a big responsibility. Now as a minister also I have a big responsibility towards the people. As a minister, I will always try to play an instrumental role in rolling out new policies that will make a positive impact on the lives of people. Be it roadways, water supply, or access to government schemes. We will keep working for people.”
Debbarma also said that he would continue to work as per the instructions of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and his party supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.Royal scion and founder of TIPRA Motha party Pradyot Kishore Debbarman said that the ministers of his party would raise the issues of Tiprasa people in the state cabinet.
“Our party leaders will speak for our people outside the cabinet and our ministers will speak for them inside the state cabinet. I know what happened to the IPFT. After getting inducted into the state cabinet, two ministers of the party became silent. I assure you all that will not be the case for TIPRA ministers. We shall keep fighting for our cause,” said Debbarman.
On being asked about his demand for “Greater Tipraland”, he said, “Like the BJP has a core demand of Ram Mandir, we have Greater Tipraland. We are not compromising with that but now our goal is to ensure that the accord we have signed is implemented effectively within the time frame. The cardinal points of the accord are the socio-economic, political, and linguistic upliftment of the indigenous people. We want that to be implemented first.”
With the inclusion of two ministers from TIPRA motha, the total number ministers in Tripura cabinet rose to 11. One ministerial berth is still vacant. The political development also changed the composition of the ruling coalition. The BJP-IPFT coalition has now turned into BJP, IPFT and TIPRA coalition. The North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) led by BJP has also received a new member in the form of TIPRA.
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