Tripura BJP president and Rajya Sabha member, Manik Saha, 69, who has changed Biplab Deb because the Chief Minister, had joined the BJP on December 11, 2016 — a improvement that was not more than a footnote within the native press.
A number one dental surgeon, Saha, together with a number of others, was then welcomed into the BJP fold at a press convention addressed by Deb, who was then heading the BJP’s state unit. In truth, that press convention had made extra information for Deb’s assertion that the BJP, which was then steadily gaining floor in Tripura, wouldn’t forge any pre-poll alliance with regional events forward of the Assembly polls. The BJP would go on to win the 2018 Assembly polls in an alliance with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).
But Saha, whose father Makhan Lal Saha was a identified businessman of Tripura, continued to have the picture of a greenhorn in a celebration unit full of leaders with lengthy political careers. Later, he was made the top of the “prishta pramukhs”, who play the function of the BJP electoral equipment’s pivot. Significantly, he additionally remained a steadfast loyalist of Deb, even because the state get together began creating cracks with dissent brewing in opposition to the CM.
Academically, Saha’s file had been outstanding. He accomplished his Bachelor in Dental Studies from Government Dental College, Patna, securing fourth place within the college rankings. He obtained his post-graduation diploma in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from KGMC Lucknow University in 1995 with flying colors. Later, he additionally served as a professor of dental surgical procedure at Tripura Medical College and Dr B R Ambedkar Teaching Hospital. Among his many honours, he’s the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Dental Association.
Saha’s induction into the BJP was truly perceived extra as an try by the BJP to win over the civil society of Tripura, which had been below the CPI(M)-led Left Front rule repeatedly since 1998.
Saha’s loyalty and clear picture paid off in 2019, when the BJP dispensation helped him turn out to be the president of the Tripura Cricket Association, a cash-rich physique. He was additionally an athlete in his youth and took part in badminton tournaments on the college and nationwide ranges. He was declared the most effective NCC cadet amongst junior division boys in 1970.
His affect over the saffron get together continued to develop with Deb making manner for him to take over because the Tripura BJP president in January 2020. Deb’s removing because the get together unit chief was a key demand of the dissident leaders, who needed the management to implement its “one man, one post” coverage within the state.
And in March this yr, Saha additionally turned the primary BJP chief from the state to get elected to the Rajya Sabha. However, his regular rise within the get together did little to handle the simmering discontent within the state unit amid the notion that Deb was making an attempt to retain management over the organisation by means of him.
A celebration part’s mistrust of Saha was on show even on Saturday, with the BJP Legislature Party assembly, by which he was picked as the brand new CM, witnessing heated arguments among the many MLAs over the get together’s selection. So far, not less than two MLAs, together with a minister Ram Prasad Paul, has publicly questioned his appointment to the highest publish.
In February this yr, 15 state BJP leaders, together with Paul, wrote to the get together central management, demanding Saha’s removing because the state unit chief, alleging that the get together’s base was getting quickly eroded below his stewardship.
Last yr, the BJP suffered a jolt within the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls by which TIPRA Motha, an outfit floated by royal scion Pradyot Debbarman, registered large good points. However, the ruling get together carried out nicely within the civic physique polls held in November 2021.
