Flashpoint in Kamalasagar: MLA Antara Sarkar Deb Confronts Organisers at Atal Smriti Football Tournament, Sparks Political Storm

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 24, 2025

A dramatic political showdown unfolded on Sunday at the Matingar School Ground in Kamalasagar Assembly Constituency during the inaugural ceremony of the Atal Smriti Knockout Football Tournament, organised by the local Play-Centre.For the past few weeks, the entire Seaipahijala district and its subdivisions had been covered with extensive publicity for the tournament. Flex banners and festoons were put up across the constituency but surprisingly, none featured the photograph of local MLA Antara Sarkar Deb. Instead, the banners prominently displayed images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, the Chief Minister, the State President, and Nabadul Banik, Chairman of TIDC.

The inaugural programme began on time with a stage packed with guests. But the atmosphere changed abruptly when MLA Antara Sarkar Deb arrived unannounced. Taking the microphone in front of thousands, she publicly questioned, 'Who is Nabadul Banik to Kamalasagar'?Her fierce remarks shocked the audience and led to several invited guests quietly stepping down from the stage, observing the situation from below as tensions escalated.When asked why the MLA’s photo was omitted from the widely circulated flex banners, tournament committee president Swapan Miah struggled to give a clear answer.

Although Sports Minister Tinku Roy was supposed to inaugurate the tournament, he remained absent for unknown reasons. The event was instead opened in the presence of TIDC Chairman Nabadul Banik, Seapahijala Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Dutta, and social worker Biplab Chakraborty. Moments after the ceremony began, the MLA stormed onto the stage and confronted the organisers. Her aggressive questioning of the president, secretary, and treasurer of the committee further intensified the situation. Concerned that matters were spiralling out of control, the organisers eventually switched off her microphone.Though the match later commenced with collective effort, the MLA continued addressing the crowd from below the stage before walking out of the venue.

The tournament committee alleged that the MLA had not been invited, but the organisers presented the inaugural match invitation letter and termed the allegation baseless. However, the core issue appears to lie deeper.

According to reliable sources, a close association developed between Nabadul Banik and the former Kamalasagar Mandal Committee during his tenure as State Youth Morcha President. This rapport allegedly enabled sidelined former Mandal leaders to bypass the MLA and organise social programmes under the banner of Kasbeswari Social Organisation, keeping the current Mandal Committee in the dark. The MLA is said to have raised such issues repeatedly with the state leadership, but seeing no response, her patience reportedly snapped on Sunday.Questions are now being raised on both sides whether the MLA’s method of protest was appropriate, and whether Nabadul Banik’s continued involvement in constituency events without coordinating with the elected representative or present Mandal leadership is justified.

Many in the area are also speculating that Nabadul Banik may be eyeing the party ticket from Kamalasagar in the upcoming Assembly election, fuelling further political tension.The incident has ignited a fresh debate within local BJP circles and exposed simmering internal conflicts that may shape Kamalasagar’s political landscape in the coming months.

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