Congress Takes Aim at Manik Saha: Tripura Congress demands reforms in public health and resignation of CM Manik Saha amid rising complaints of poor hospital services.
In a sharp escalation of political pressure, the Sadar District Congress Committee on Saturday organized a massive protest rally in Agartala, condemning the “deteriorating state of public healthcare” in Tripura and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the crucial Health and Family Welfare portfolio.
Hundreds of Congress supporters, waving party flags and chanting slogans, marched from Circuit House through several arterial streets of the capital before submitting a detailed deputation to the Director of the Health Department. The rally created significant public attention as protesters called out alleged corruption in medical services and severe shortages of essential staff at government hospitals.
‘CM Has Failed as Health Minister’
Leading the protest, senior Congress leader Tanmoy Roy took direct aim at Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, accusing him of “criminal negligence” and failing to address the health crisis in the state despite his own professional background as a doctor.
“It is shameful that a doctor-turned-chief minister has failed to ensure even basic healthcare for the people of Tripura. Poor patients wait for hours, beds are unavailable, and essential medicines are out of stock. The health system is collapsing,” Roy said while addressing the media.
He alleged that large-scale corruption in medical entrance examinations and recruitment processes had further degraded public trust in the system. According to the Congress leader, GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC)—Tripura’s top public healthcare facilities—are operating with dangerously low levels of staff and infrastructure.
“Patients are often forced to lie on the floor in hospital corridors. Even district hospitals are running without enough doctors or nurses. There are not enough beds, ventilators, or even functioning toilets in many places,” Roy added.
Key Demands and Accusations
The Congress protestors submitted a charter of demands to the Health Department, which included:
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Immediate recruitment of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff.
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A complete audit of funds allocated to GBP and AGMC.
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Transparent probe into alleged irregularities in medical recruitment and admissions.
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Revamp of district hospitals with essential infrastructure upgrades.
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Chief Minister’s resignation from the Health portfolio on moral grounds.
The memorandum stated that the state’s rural healthcare system is “on the verge of collapse,” with many primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) operating with skeletal staff or closed altogether.
Warning of Intensified Agitation
Roy and other Congress leaders warned that this was only the first phase of agitation, and the party would not hesitate to take to the streets again if immediate action is not taken.
“This is not just a political issue—it’s a humanitarian crisis. People are dying due to negligence, and we will hold the Chief Minister personally responsible. If our demands are ignored, we will intensify our agitation in the coming days,” Roy warned.
The Sadar District Congress also accused the state government of prioritizing image-building over governance, claiming that health workers and junior doctors had repeatedly raised concerns which were brushed aside.
Healthcare System Under Strain
While the state government has made claims of improving health indicators, opposition parties and civil society activists argue that ground realities tell a different story. Over the past year, complaints about delayed emergency services, overburdened doctors, and medicine shortages have become increasingly common.
With Tripura’s health infrastructure already stressed post-COVID-19, critics say the lack of administrative will is pushing the public health system toward collapse. The Congress’s protest marks a significant attempt to bring the issue to political center stage, just months before potential electoral cycles begin to influence state policy decisions.
