Gopal Roy appreciates move by Tripura assembly to organize seminar, rues reduced working days and lack of scope for opposition

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 27, 2026

Former PCC president and sitting Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy today appreciated the initiative taken by the Tripura assembly in organizing a seminar and work-shop in Prajna Bhawan auditorium on ‘Accontability and Responsibility of Public Representatives’. He was one of the invitees in the seminar cum workshop organized at the instance of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

While speaking in the seminar cum workshop today Gopal Roy appreciate the seminar and workshop , describing it as much-needed exercise which should be periodically taken. He however rued the reduction in working day of the state assembly and shrinking scope for opposition members to raise issues of public interest in the course of the assembly session. “What I find most unfortunate and regrettable is that contrary to recommendations made by the national speakers conference long back , possibly in the year 1984 for having assembly session for at least forty days in a year , the sessions of Tripura assembly are now being held for fewer days than even fifteen; this decline had started when the left front had been power between 1978-1988 but now things have hit an all time low ; this should change and we should have longer session and more working days” said Gopal Chandra Roy.

He also pointed out that the opposition members here are not given adequate opportunities to raise important issues of public interest . “In this regard the speaker has an important role to play and I must emphasize the fact that the opposition MLAs do not speak for themselves in the assembly but for members of the public on their problems; unless this voicing of opinion is allowed the government will also remain in the dark about the realities of the situation” said Gopal. He also said that raising issues of public importance in the assembly should not be misinterpreted as a challenge to the government but ‘constructive criticism’ should be welcomed by the government in public interest . He made an appeal for better and more meaningful functioning of the assembly.

The seminar and workshop organized by the assembly was presided over by the acting speaker Ram Prasad Paul while the chief minister Dr Manik Saha was the chief guest . The union minister for parliamentary affairs, Kiren Rijiju was also present in the seminar. All the representatives of people from Panchayat to state assembly except a few were present in it .

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