‘God bless you’, Sudip wishes departing Biplab Kumar Deb

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 26, 2022

Rivalry or enmity in civilized politics is always couched in sophistry or euphemistic arguments or points. Instances of this abound all around but a startling example was available today in the state assembly. In what was the last day of possibly the last or penultimate session of the current 10th assembly former chief minister and newly elected Rajya Sabha member of the state Biplab Kumar Deb went round the house in session to bid farewell to all the members. Biplab Deb met and shook hands with all members of the treasury bench and opposition, wishing all and taking blessings from elderly ones and good wishes from the contemporaries and juniors. This was his last day in the assembly after being elected to Rajya Sabha and having resigned from the august house.

The house fell silent as he approached his arch rival Sudip Roybarman but the latter who is senior to Biplab both in terms of age and membership of the house stood up and shook hands. “May God bless you” said Barman cryptically to Biplab’s good wishes . The bemused house burst into loud claps.

Biplab and Sudip had never gone along well since the BJP government had been formed in 2018-so much so that on May 30 2019 Biplab had dropped Sudip unceremoniously from the council of ministers. Sudip could hardly stomach the humiliation and tried his level best to have Biplab removed as chief minister by approaching the party’s central leadership . But after all his efforts had failed Sudip joined Congress formally with fellow-MLA and friend Asish Saha in Delhi in February this year. However, in May this year Biplab himself was removed from the post of chief minister but by then the duo had moved far apart. Today’s exchange of pleasantry seemingly put an end to a turbulent chapter in personal and political rivalry between the duo-at least for the time being.

In his brief farewell speech Biplab thanked all the members for co-operation with him and assured the house that as member of Rajya Sabha he will highlight issues related to Tripura and will also approach various ministries to raise matters of vital interest to the state . He promised to be in constant touch with Tripura.