Kharchi Mela Fund Utilisation Sparks Public Rift Between BJP Leaders in Khayerpur, Video of Heated Exchange Goes Viral
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, June 22, 2026
A video capturing a heated exchange between BJP MLA Ratan Chakraborty and West Tripura Zilla Parishad Acting Sabhadhipati Biswajit Shil during a Kharchi Mela preparatory meeting has surfaced on social media, triggering widespread discussion over the management and financial transparency of one of Tripura's most prominent religious and cultural festivals.
The controversy reportedly revolves around the allocation of funds for the Kharchi Mela and the alleged failure to present expenditure accounts from the previous year's event. During the official preparatory meeting, Biswajit Shil openly expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as a lack of transparency in the management of the fair.
According to Shil, the financial accounts relating to last year's Kharchi Mela have not yet been presented before the concerned authorities. He further alleged that several public representatives and members of the West Tripura District Cultural Committee were not invited to key meetings associated with the festival's organisation. Shil also questioned the handling of revenue generated through the distribution of shop plots and vendor tokens during the fair, claiming that no detailed account of such collections had been made available.
His remarks appeared to suggest concerns regarding the utilisation of funds associated with the annual festival. The statements have attracted significant public attention, particularly after the meeting's video clip was circulated widely on social media platforms.
Responding to the allegations, MLA Ratan Chakraborty defended the existing arrangements, stating that the Kharchi Mela has traditionally been organised in a particular manner and that the festival preparations would continue accordingly. He rejected suggestions of irregularities and maintained that the organisers have been following established procedures.
Observers note that the discussion remained intense but orderly, with both leaders engaging in a prolonged debate while seated side by side during the meeting. The episode has highlighted apparent differences within local BJP leadership regarding the administration and financial management of the Kharchi Mela.
The Kharchi Mela, one of Tripura's largest traditional festivals, attracts thousands of devotees and visitors every year. Given its cultural significance and the substantial public funds involved in its organisation, the issue of transparency and accountability has become a matter of public interest.
As the festival approaches, many residents are now calling for greater clarity regarding expenditure details and the management of revenues generated during the event. Whether the controversy will have any impact on the upcoming Kharchi Mela preparations remains to be seen.
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