New Tripura CM Saha in charge, new Cabinet soon

Talks of strong bond with Biplab Kumar Deb and the new party responsibility awaiting him

: Dr. Manik Saha, who was sworn in as new Chief Minister of Tripura on Sunday, said he shares a strong chemistry with his predecessor Biplab Kumar Deb and it will be his endeavour to implement all welfare decisions of his government.

“My cabinet will be carrying forward all decisions and schemes of the past government headed by Biplab Kumar Deb. I share a very strong chemistry with the former Chief Minister,” Dr. Saha said at his first press conference as Chief Minister.

He gave a hint that Mr. Deb, who had tendered his resignation in a sudden political development on Saturday, will be given an important responsibility in the party though he did not mention which.

Earlier in the day, Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya administered the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister at the Raj Bhavan. Former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and his ministerial colleagues attended, but Opposition parties including CPI(M) boycotted the ceremony citing the alleged dismal law and order situation in the State.

No other minister was inducted in the new cabinet on Sunday, but Dr. Saha said that cabinet expansion will be done in the next couple of days. He gave indication that there would be minor changes in his council of ministers.

Dr. Saha asserted that he accepted the new position in order to respect the decision of the BJP leadership and said everyone in the saffron party has to discharge any given responsibility with ‘pride and joy’. “It’s (BJP) not like any other political party and we all know how the party works’, ‘‘ he said.

He said he would make sure that rule of law prevails, and no law and order situation erupts anywhere in the state. He also sought cooperation from the Opposition parties.