By Firstdespatch Desk Jan 27, 2023
Agartala, January 27 (FD) In a major setback to the opposition CPI-M before the assembly elections in Tripura, party’s sitting MLA from Kailasahar constituency, Mobassar Ali has joined the BJP in Delhi and is likely to be expelled from the party on the charge of breach of discipline.
The ruling BJP spokesperson in Tripura, Sunit Sarkar said, Ali joined BJP in Delhi and agreed to work for the saffron party in the Feb.16 elections in the state.
The name of the sitting MLA was dropped from the candidates’ list of CPI-M, announced on Jan 25 last in favour of PCC president Birajit Sinha.
The opposition CPI-M and Congress and CPI-M stitched an alliance for the upcoming poll and left 13 seats in favour of the Congress and CPI-M decided to contest in 46 seats while one seat was allotted for an independent candidate.
Sources in the saffron party said, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Pratima Bhowmik got in touch with Ali and flew with him to Delhi to join the BJP and he joined the saffron party today.
Responding to the reports about Ali’s joining in BJP, the CPI (M) state secretary Jiten Chowdhury said that he is still unaware of what Mobassar was doing.
“Before dropping him in favour of Birajit Sinha because of sustained persuasion from central Congress leadership we had consulted him and he had also agreed to make the sacrifice; but now we hear that he is in Delhi; there is no confirmation of what he is doing; but if he really joins BJP we will have to take disciplinary action”, he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the top leaders of the BJP including party chief J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others have met in Delhi on Thursday to finalise candidates for the upcoming Tripura assembly elections.
The meeting was also attended by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP’s state incharge Mahesh Sharma and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Deb.
Earlier in the day, BJP’s Tripura unit core group members met at party leader and northeast incharge Sambit Patra’s residence, party sources said.
BJP spokesperson said, the saffron party is likely to finalise its candidates for the Tripura assembly elections on Friday in its central election committee meeting. FD JK