BJP-backed panel loses 10 out of 15 posts in Tripura lawyers’ body election

Agartala

: The BJP on Saturday received a setback in the Tripura Bar Association election as the panel, backed by the ruling party, lost 10 of the 15 posts to the opposition Congress and CPM combined. The development came close on the heels of BJP celebrating its victory in the just concluded assembly polls in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh,

Uttarakhand

and Goa. Both the key posts of president and secretary were won by the panel, jointly backed by Congress and CPM, under the banner, “Save Constitution Forum”. The BJP-backed Ainjeebi Unnayan Mancha, won only the posts of vice-president and one assistant secretary, along with three other positions of committee members.Upset with the result, BJP insiders held law minister Ratan Lal Nath responsible for the debacle in the bar association election, accusing him of empanelling all the turncoats as public prosecutor and assistant public prosecutor, reportedly depriving the “anti-Left, knowledgeable and competent” lawyers from across all the courts, including the high court.“This was a protest vote against the government’s attitude towards genuine aspirants. There was a cross-voting against the BJP panel because the selection was done without valuing one’s loyalty towards the party,” said a senior advocate who supports BJP. The previous government had brought an advocate general from outside, this government also did the same, the advocate added.