MLAs Ashish Saha, Sudip Roy Barman quit BJP; may join Cong

Tripura BJP MLAs Sudip Roy Barman and Ashish Saha on Monday left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Assembly elections next year.

The MLAs handed over their resignations to the Assembly Speaker Ratan Chakraborty on Monday and said that the Speaker had accepted the letter.

According to sources, Barman is likely to join the Congress on February 10.

Barman spoke out against the Biplab Deb government for lack of oxygen in democracy.

Saha and Barman travelled to Delhi on Monday and on their return, will explain why they resigned from the BJP.

After resigning, Barman once again expressed his anger against the BJP government.

“The government has not come close to the purpose for which the change was made. The state needs to have an open environment of democracy, where people can talk openly,” he said.

Barman added: “We have a lot of patience. I thought it would get better. But not anymore. Unable to bear all this, we gave up. Feeling very light today. I will fulfill my responsibility with the people in the coming days.”

Barman also alleged that democracy was declining in Tripura.

“With sab ka saath, sab ka bikash, why so much violence is needed? There is no democracy left in Tripura”

When the Tripura Cabinet was expanded in August last year, three new members were added to Biplob Deb’s cabinet. But Barman was not on that list.