Agartala: Hours after the resignation of Speaker Rebati Mohan Das from the legislative assembly, he has been appointed vice-president of BJP’s Tripura Pradesh. The development assumes significance as it came right after a rejig in the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
Many of the party MLAs are of the view that Das was not a perfect choice for the post of Speaker and often failed to perform his duties as desired. However, he is a veteran politician of the state who represented the Scheduled Caste reserved for the Pratapgarh assembly constituency and was elected Speaker unopposed after the crucial political change of guard that took place in the year 2018.
Tripura BJP state president Dr Manik Saha appointed Das as one of his six vice-presidents through a formal press conference right after his resignation.
Das replaced Union Minister of State Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik. “Bhoumik submitted her resignation from the organizational post as it is not possible for her to serve in both the responsibilities altogether. In her post, Rebati Mohan Das has been appointed as the new vice-president as he desired to work for the party’s organization, not in any constitutional post," said Dr Manik Saha.
Saha said, he (Rebati Das) has performed his role quite efficiently and now following his desire the party has inducted him in the core committee to give him a platform to guide the party through his organizational skills.
The new changes being made in the state BJP are aimed at a massive rejig in order to get the best possible results in the forthcoming elections. Das, who had started his career as a close confidant of veteran Left leader and former minister late Anil Sarkar defected to the BJP prior to the 2018 assembly elections apparently to get nomination. Das trounced the CPIM from his long secured bastion. However, his elevation to the party’s top position also bears a message that BJP is serious about a little over 17 per cent vote of the SC community in Tripura. And, evidently, for that reason, Tripura got its first SC minister in the cabinet reshuffle that took place a few days back.
Meanwhile, speaking on the issue, Rebati Das said, “I have not been pressured for taking the step. I have told Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb to relieve me from the post as I feel I am better fitted in the organizational works." On being asked, Das suggested the names of MLA Ratan Chakraborty and Deputy Speaker Biswbandhu Sen who can really run the show of assembly.
