Tripura BJP’s vice president forms a new party

AGARTALA: : The ruling BJP in Tripura faced embarrassment after one of it’s Vice Presidents, holding the status of a Minister of State Patal Kanya Jamatia on Monday announced the formation of a new party named Tripura People’s Socialist Party (TPSP).

Patal Kanya said TPSP, an extension of her NGO, the Tripura People’s Front (TPF), which has engaged in social causes for over a decade. She was actively associated with the royal scion and founder of TIPRA Motha Pradyot Kishore Debbarman against the Citizen Amendment Bill and NRC.

But she came out from Pradyot’s team. She joined BJP through the then Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and Union Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik despite strong opposition from senior leaders of the state BJP. In 2023, Patal Kanya lost in assembly election, but party accorded her the status of Minister of State, and became Chairman of Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation (TRPC).

The BJP fell into trouble with Patal Kanya following multiple charges of her involvement in corruption and criticizing Pradyot Kishore just a day before the Loksabha election after BJP allied with Motha. She was cautioned thereafter for not abiding by the party rule but retained her in the position.

She announced to revive her political party while maintaining her current position in the BJP. Jamatia revealed that she will continue as BJP vice president and simultaneously lead TPSP and said, “On 10th anniversary of TPF, we are launching our political platform, the Tripura People’s Socialist Party.”

Jamatia announced, adding that Raghubir Jamatia will serve as the party’s president. Alongside the political wing, they are also introducing an entrepreneurship and cooperative initiative, the Tripura People’s Farmers Organisation.

When asked about potential conflicts with her BJP role, Jamatia stated, “I will continue as BJP vice president. I am not holding an office in the new party; I will serve as its founder and supremo. If someone from TIPRA Motha can contest and win on a BJP symbol, I have the right to be affiliated with another party as well.” Jamatia argued.

However, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said, “The matter has come to the notice of the party and the matter has been in the discussion. I am not in a position to detail much on it.”


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