Deb sworn in as new Tripura CM, PM attends ceremony
DISPLEASURE Left parties officially boycotted the swearingin ceremony to protest against the postelection violence in the state
AGARTALA: Biplab Deb was sworn in as chief minister of Tripura on Friday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Governor Tathagata Roy administered the oath of office and secrecy to Deb, followed by deputy CM Jishnu Dev Barman.
AGARTALA: Six days after ending the Left Front’s 25-year rule over Tripura, the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the northeastern state took charge on Friday.
Biplab Deb, a 48-year-old first-time member of the legislative assembly, who played a crucial role in the party’s victory as the state unit chief, was sworn in as chief minister by governor Tathagata Roy at the sprawling Assam Rifles ground here.
Jishnu Dev Barman of the BJP was sworn in as deputy chief minister.
Seven other ministers also took the office. Five of them, Sudip Roy Barman, Ratan Lal Nath, Shantana Chakma, Pranajit Singha Roy and Manoj Kanti Deb, are from the BJP and two, Narendra Chandra Debbarma and Mewar Kumar Jamatia, are from its alliance partner Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, and chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states.
Left parties officially boycotted the ceremony to protest against the post-poll violence in Tripura. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the main opposition, was, however, represented by former chief minister Manik Sarkar, his finance minister Badal Choudhury and Lok Sabha member Jitendra Chaudhury.
Deb sought the four-time chief minister’s feet to seek his blessings.
Sarkar, who left the programme after the oath-taking ceremony, was escorted out by Modi.
“Today, Tripura is celebrating Diwali again. The light of prosperity, a new hope, new aspirations, have taken birth again,” Modi said in a speech.
“This new government will work for the people who have voted it to power and for them as well who didn’t vote for it. I hope the new team, headed by a young chief minister, and the experienced opposition representatives would work together to take the state in a new direction,” Modi said.
Earlier, Deb assured the gathering that he and his team would do their best for the state’s development. “If I commit any mistake in providing good governance, pull my ears to show me the right track. Treat me as your son and brother,” he said.
The BJP won 35 seats, the IPFT eight and the CPI (M) 16 seats in the 60-member Tripura assembly in the state election last month.Election to one seat was postponed because of the death of a candidate.