Tripura Higher Education Minister Faces Criticism Over Distribution of Exam Suggestion Booklets with his own Pix and Party Symbols
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, February 11, 2026
A controversy has erupted in Tripura after Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman distributed study materials to Madhyamik (Class 10) examinees containing his photograph and the symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident has triggered sharp criticism across media platforms and social networking sites, with many questioning the appropriateness of mixing political branding with academic initiatives.
According to reports, the minister organized a special program in Nalchar constituency ahead of the upcoming Madhyamik examinations. As part of the initiative, students were provided with water bottles and a compilation of previous years’ question papers intended to help them prepare better for the exams. However, the inclusion of political symbols on the distributed materials has drawn widespread backlash.
Defending his actions, Minister Barman stated that such initiatives are not new and have been part of his personal efforts for many years. “For a long time, before secondary examinations in Melaghar, I have been distributing educational materials like geometry boxes, calculators, and other study aids to students on my own initiative. This year too, I followed the same tradition by organizing a workshop and distributing helpful materials,” he said.
Explaining the objective behind the program, the minister shared details of the event held at Durlabhnarayan Community Hall and Nalchar Panchayat Samiti Hall. The workshop, themed “Ways to Achieve Good Results in Madhyamik Examination,” was organized for CBSE and TBSE board students of the Nalchar Assembly constituency.
Under the vision of “Ek Nalchar, Sushikshit Nalchar” (One Nalchar, Educated Nalchar), the program aimed at motivating and guiding students ahead of their board exams. Renowned educationists were invited as resource persons, including President Award-winning retired teacher and CBSE Academic Coordinator Shri Swapan Majumder and Nalchar High School Headmaster Shri Subrata Debnath. The TRKS Nalchar branch also extended organizational support for the event.
In his statement, Minister Barman emphasized that true development of a constituency or state cannot be achieved only through infrastructural progress. “The most important factor is how educated, aware, and mentally developed the citizens are. With that belief, I have taken this initiative, something that has never been seen in Nalchar before. This is a firm step toward building a strong, confident, and educated Nalchar in the future,” he asserted.
Despite his justification, opposition leaders and sections of civil society have criticized the move, alleging that the distribution of academic materials bearing party symbols amounts to political propaganda among students. Many have questioned whether government resources and platforms should be used for partisan promotion.
The controversy continues to gain momentum, with demands for clearer guidelines on political neutrality in educational programs. Whether the minister’s initiative will be viewed as a genuine educational effort or an attempt at political branding remains a subject of heated debate across the state.
“Education is the future, and education is the foundation of a beautiful society and life,” the minister concluded in his message to students, words now overshadowed by the political storm surrounding the event.
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