Agartala: In an unprecedented move, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has tendered his resignation to Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya, news agency PTI reported. According to reports, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to chair a meeting later in the day to choose a new Chief Minister for the state. Deb made the announcement after meeting the governor at the Raj Bhavan in Agartala.
"Party wants me to work to strengthen the organisation" Biplab Deb said after resigning as Tripura CM. The state is slated to go to assembly elections next year.
"Party is above all. I am a loyal worker of the BJP. I hope I have done justice to the responsibilities that were given to me -- whether it was BJP state president or Tripura chief minister. I have worked for the overall development of Tripura, and to ensure peace for the people of the state," Deb told reporters.
"The 2023 election is coming, and the party wants a responsible organiser to take charge of the affairs here. A government can only be formed if the organisation is strong. After the elections, someone will obviously become the chief minister," he added.
Deb's resignation comes a day after he went to New Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda on Thursday for a confabulation on the party's affairs in the Northeastern state.
There have been rumours of infighting within the BJP's state unit.
Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, who is related to the erstwhile Tripura royal family, is expected to take charge in the interim, sources told PTI. The state is slated to go to assembly elections next year.
Currently, Union Minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde are in Tripura as the central observers. The new leader who will replace Biplab Kumar Deb will be announced this evening.
Ending two and a half decade of Left Front rule, Deb was appointed the Chief Minister after the BJP stormed to power in 2018.