As expected former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has been elected to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Deb got 43 votes in the 60 member assembly. Deb has defeated the CPM candidate and former Minister Bhanulal Saha by 28 votes. The results of the election to the lone Upper House seat were declared by the Election Commission officials in the afternoon.
Out of 60 MLAs 58 have cast their votes as lone Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman abstained from voting and one seat remains vacant following disqualification of IPFT MLA Brishaketu Debarma.
Deb resigned from the chief ministerial position on May 14 and incumbent Rajya Sabha member and BJP’s the then president Dr Manik Saha became the Chief Minister. Dr Saha also resigned from the Rajya Sabha membership and that necessitated bye-poll to the seat.
Out of Deb’st 43 votes 36 votes were from the BJP’s and 7 from IPFT while Saha secured 15 votes while Congress’ lone MLA.
After his election, Deb expressing his gratitude to the Central leadership, tweeted: “Gratitude to the BJP and IPFT MLAs of Tripura for electing me as a Rajya Sabha MP. Gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah for giving me this opportunity to represent Tripura in Rajya Sabha.”
Soon after his election all the BJP leaders including Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee, state unit prabhari Dr Mahesh Sharma all congratulated Deb.
Deb said he would now raise the Tripura matters in the Parliament and see that the state’s development process took new momentum. Deb also happens to be the in charge of Hariyana BJP.
