The two ruling BJP MLAs from Tripura — Sudip Roy Barman and Ashish Kumar Saha — who had resigned from the party on Monday joined the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday.
They joined the Congress as was expected in the presence of former party president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi in the morning and then attended a press meet in the afternoon.
The duo asserted the Congress would form the next government in Tripura after the Assembly polls next year and that more BJP MLAs were in the queue to join the party.
The BJP has downplayed the development because as on day there was no apparent threat to the BJP-IPFT government in Tripura as they have 41 MLAs in a House of 57.
Besides Barman and Saha, another BJP MLA Ashis Das had quit last year to join the Trinamul.
The duo’s resignation has been accepted by the Assembly Speaker.
After joining the Congress, Barman, a five-time MLA, said: “This is ghar wapsi for me after four-and-a-half year of exile and I will atone for my sins (of leaving the party). I want to be with the truth, with the party that only has the interest of the country and its people. I want to be with a leader (Rahul Gandhi) who only thinks about the country and I want to contribute in whatever way possible.”
He then launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led state government in Tripura. “There is complete chaos, lawlessness. A reign of terror has been let loose. Things have come to such a pass that the OSD to CM decides the headlines of morning newspapers. We are sure of forming the government next year,” Barman said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) Tripura in-charge Dr Ajay Kumar told reporters that at least 12-13 BJP MLAs were ready to join the party and appealed to those who had left the party to return and support Rahul.
Saha, a three-time MLA, told The Telegraph that the BJP could form the government in 2018 for the first time with the help for former Congressmen. “At least 27 former Congressmen are MLAs in the present Assembly. At least 10-12 MLAs are in touch. Expect a lot of churning as we go about strengthening the party.”
Congress insiders said a lot of first-time BJP MLAs unhappy with the functioning of Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb would leave after the present government completes four years in power in March. “This will make them eligible for pension. So wait till March to know the impact of these resignations,” one of them said.
Barman had joined the Trinamul with five Congress MLAs in 2016 and then shifted to the BJP in 2017 with his loyalists. Barman is a former Opposition and CLP leader and has a following in the state.
Barman’s ties with chief minister Deb has been strained since he was dropped as health minister in 2019 and since he has been trying to dislodge him. With the BJP leadership backing Deb, he decided on ghar wapsi to the Congress.
The Trinamul, however, said nobody could revive the Congress. “What will they do now that they could not do when they were the only Opposition party in the state?” Tripura state convener Subal Bhowmik asked.
Ruling BJP leaders said the duo’s resignation will not impact the party or the government and that the state was witnessing development under chief minister Deb.
BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said, “Let Congress handle them (the duo) now. We are comfortably placed.”
Tripura minister Sushanta Chowdhury had said on Monday, “One thing is clear... overthrowing the government is their main agenda. We condemn this agenda…. Resignation of two MLAs will not lead to fall of government, that is impossible. We will not allow it, the people will not allow it.”
Chowdhury had also said Barman’s statement he felt relieved after putting in his papers is similar to what he had said after leaving the Congress for the Trinamul.
