Agartala (Tripura): In a setback to the Congress, Tripura party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman resigned on Tuesday alleging the central party leadership was not 'allowing him to work freely and independently and he has been under pressure to withdraw the NRC (National Register of Citizens) case filed in the Supreme Court'.
"I have sent a mail to the central leaders on Tuesday, stating my decision to resign from the party post. I would submit my formal resignation soon," Deb Barman said.
Deb Barman, a scion of the state's royal family, said that some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were steering the Congress from behind.
"Senior Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro has turned my life into hell. He has been pressurising me to withdraw the case seeking SC direction to introduce NRC in Tripura. I can't betray my people (tribals) and hence have decided to quit the post," Deb Barman said.
"A BJP legislator, who was with the Congress earlier, has been interfering in Faleiro's decision-making," he said.
In a social media post, he said, "Woke up today after a long time feeling relaxed. I start this day without having to listen to criminals and liars. Not having to worry about which colleague will backstab, not having to indulge in groups and backchat. Not having to listen to 'High Command' on how to accommodate corrupt people in high positions."
Deb Barman appointed the Tripura Congress chief by Rahul Gandhi on February 25.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had asked him to continue till the completion of Badharghat Assembly by-election. The voting took place on Monday and counting of votes will be on Friday.
His father Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya Deb Barman and mother Bibhu Kumari Devi were Lok Sabha members for several terms. Devi was also Minister in the Congress-led government in 1988-1993.
Also read: Delhi to soon become 'first state' to implement the Street Vending Act: Kejriwal
