By Firstdespatch Desk May 26, 2025
Agartala, May 26 (FD) A political controversy has sparked off in Tripura after Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma accused Gomati District Magistrate (DM) Tarit Kanti Chakma of refusing to meet him at his official residence in Udaipur.
The incident reportedly took place on Sunday when Debbarma, accompanied by Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council's Chief Executive Member Purna Chandra Jamatia, visited the DM’s residence to discuss urgent district matters.
According to Debbarma, multiple text messages and phone calls made to the DM over the past month went unanswered. “I went personally to discuss important issues, but the DM refused to meet. Even the Chief Minister met me at his official residence, yet the DM denied a public representative a meeting,” he told reporters.
The incident has drawn strong criticism from across the political range.
CPI(M) MLA and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury condemned the DM’s actions, calling them “unacceptable” and a “dereliction of duty.
“DM, Gomati's behaviour with two public representatives is not at all acceptable and condemnable. Dereliction of duties as a public servant and sheer arrogance”, said Jiten Chaudhury.
Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma also demanded immediate action, urging Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to remove Chakma from his post for “unexpected behaviour” and failure to perform his duties responsibly.
The controversy highlights growing tensions between the state bureaucracy and tribal political leadership, as calls for accountability intensify in Tripura’s governance structure.
However, Pradyot Kishore in a video message today also asked his supporters and the activists of his party, whom he describes as warriors not to be angry with the Chakma community.
He said this is an isolated incident and the Chakma community should not be dragged into the issue.
He also raised serious concerns over illegal immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh.
Warning that Rohingyas and Bangladeshis are receiving voter IDs and ration cards, he stated that this could alter the electoral outcome in 2028.
“We must act now. Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to determine our MLAs, MPs, or Chief Minister,” he asserted.
He urged all MLAs to coordinate with local authorities to identify and stop illegal entries and document frauds. “It’s time to unite to protect Tripura and India’s future,” he concluded. FD JK