Ahead of Sharadiya Durga Puja festivities, Distribution of New Ration Cards from MLA’s Residence Sparks Debate in Khayerpur

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 30, 2025

In a development that has drawn both appreciation and controversy, new ration cards for priority group (PG) beneficiaries of various panchayats under the Khayerpur Assembly constituency were distributed directly from the official residence of local MLA Ratan Chakraborty at Dhaleswar in the state capital.On September 28, the legislator personally handed over ration cards to ten beneficiaries at his residence. Sharing the news through his social media, Chakraborty stated that these families, long deprived of rationing benefits, were overjoyed to finally receive their cards. “Their long deprivation has ended, and I too feel deeply moved by their happiness,” he wrote in his facebook page. The MLA further expressed confidence that, ahead of the Sharadiya Durga Puja festivities, these families would greatly benefit from their new entitlements.

However, the mode of distribution has triggered questions on social media. According to government norms, ration cards are meant to be distributed through designated ration shops or the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Citizens are now asking how such official documents reached a legislator’s residence for distribution.

Observers recall that during the Congress–TUJS coalition government, instances of job offers being distributed from the residences of MLAs—even at wedding ceremonies as gifts had drawn criticism. Under BJP’s governance, such practices were largely absent, with employment offers typically handed over in organized public programs.

The present incident, however, has revived discussions about political involvement in welfare distribution. While BJP, Tipra Motha, and IPFT governments have introduced a trend of collectively organizing programs for handing over job or benefit offers, ration card distribution from an MLA’s home has opened up a fresh round of debate in the public sphere.

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