Congress faces fresh crisis; 6 MLAs in Tripura quit

TIL Desk/National/Agartala-Congress today faced another crisis in the north east with six dissident MLAs in Tripura quitting the party and joining the Trinamool Congress, which will now become the main opposition party in the Left-ruled state. Tripura is the fourth north eastern state after Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya where Congress has been hit by dissidence.

The six rebel Congress MLAs led by former Leader of the Opposition Sudip Roy Burman, submitted a letter to Tripura Assembly Speaker Ramendra Debnath saying they are quitting the party and joining the Trinamool Congress. Of the six dissident MLAs, Burman, Biswabandhu Sen, Diba Chandra Hrankhawl and Asish Saha were present when the letter signed by the MLAs was handed over to the Speaker.

Two other MLAs — Dilip Sarkar and Pranajit Sinha Roy — were not present on the ground that they were unwell but spoke to the Speaker over phone, official sources said. Confirming that he has received the letter, Tripura Assembly Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath said, “It was signed by six Congress MLAs informing me that they have joined the Trinamool Congress.” The Speaker that he would review their plea.

Burman has been elected leader of the TMC legislature group in Tripura and is expected to stake claim to the post of the Leader of the Opposition. This brings the Congress’ tally in the 60-member Tripura assembly to three from 10. State Congress president Birajit Sinha and two other MLAs remain with Congress. In the 60- member House, the Left Front has 50 seats. Assembly elections will be held in Tripura in 2018.