Manik Saha new Tripura Chief Minister, replaces Biplab Deb

Mainak Saha quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2016. In 2020, he was made the saffron party’s state president. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha seat in March.

Agartala: State BJP president Dr Manik Saha has been named as the new Chief Minister of Tripura, hours after former CM Biplab Deb resigned from the post merely a year before the state goes to polls.

Deb said after submitting his resignation to State Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya that he had wholeheartedly served the people of the state. "I thank Central leadership and people of Tripura for giving me the responsibility to serve Tripura as a Chief Minister. I have wholeheartedly served my State and will always work for the betterment of my State. Tripura shall definitely march ahead in the path of development. Jai Hind," Deb said in a tweet.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and party general secretary Vinod Tawde were in Agartala as central observers. "Many congratulations to Dr Manik Saha ji for being elected the leader of Tripura BJP Legislature Party. I am sure that Tripura will reach new heights of development under the guidance and leadership of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," Bhupender Yadav said in a tweet.

Deb also extended his best wishes to Saha on his new role. "Congratulations and best wishes to Dr Manik Saha ji on being elected as the legislature party leader. I believe under PM Narendra Modi Ji's vision and leadership Tripura will prosper," he said.

Dr Saha, a Professor of Dental Surgery, joined the BJP in 2016 from the Congress. He was appointed state BJP president in 2018. Dr Saha had been elected to the upper house in the biennial elections held earlier this year.

Sources in BJP said outgoing Chief Minister Biplab Deb is likely to be brought to the Rajya Sabha. It is also being said that Biplab will be asked to take up the post of the party president of Tripura. Deb had taken oath as the first Chief Minister of Bharatiya Janata Party in Tripura in 2018 ending the 25-year-rule of the Communist Party of India in Tripura. Sources said that the BJP wanted to go with a fresh face in the assembly polls.