Agartala, Dec 28 : Barely a month ahead of crucial elections to Tripura assembly ruling BJP
lost its 5th MLA from both the legislative assembly and the party as well on Wednesday, which
has reduced the strength of the government to 35 in 60 members’ house.

At present, IPFT strength is reduced to five and BJP has 30. Five BJP MLAs resigned accusing
the party leaders while former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb resigned from 9 -Banamalipur constituency after being elected to Rajya Sabha.

Diba Chandra Hrangkhal, a fourth-time MLA earlier from Congress, and presently of BJP tendered his resignation citing no reason to the assembly Secretary B P Karmakar in absence of Speaker Ratan Chakraborty.
He is likely to join Congress on Thursday. Hrangkhal was elected as the nominee of BJP from 48 -Karamcherra constituency of Dhalai in 2018.

Talking to the media, Hrangkhal said, “I expressed my displeasure over the functioning of BJP and suggested several corrective measures to the state and central leadership a number of times, but those were ignored. Anti-social elements, criminals, and frauds intruded into the BJP and have been trying to overpower the people’s mandate. Democracy is throttled, liberty of opposition parties, and citizens are destroyed – I am suffocated.”
The party leaders have no control over its cadres and a reign of terror under BJP’s dispensation in Tripura for the last 58 months, Hrangkhal said.

“I have been in politics for the last 60 years and have witnessed several ups and downs but never felt distressed. The commitment of the Chief Minister and the government announcement on the floor of the assembly have not complied. Cabinet decisions are altered and denied by the administration – how can I associate myself with this party,” he alleged.

Last month, MLA of the ruling BJP’s alliance partner IPFT in Tripura government and former Tribal Welfare Minister of Biplab Kumar Deb’s cabinet Mevar Kumar Jamatia tendered his resignation from the assembly. Two months ago, IPFT MLA from the Raima Valley constituency of Dhalai district Dhananjoy Tripura resigned from the MLA post and later joined TIPRA Motha. A year ago, IPFT legislator of Simna constituency Brishaketu Debbarma resigned and joined Motha.

Earlier, three BJP MLAs -Sudip Roybarman, Asish Saha, and Asish Das resigned from the party
and assembly as well protesting the misrule of former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and the indulgence of some central BJP leaders to him. However, Roybarman won the by-elections on a Congress ticket in June this year from the prestigious Agartala constituency.