AGARTALA, Sept 24 - In a major jolt to the Congress in Tripura, the State party president, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, has resigned from his post and party, senior party leaders stated.
Reports suggest that there has been growing rift between Debbarman, who is also a royal scion of the State, and AICC president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Luizinho Falerio over the issue of NRC in Tripura.
Party sources said that Debbarman, who led the Congress to a respectable position in the three-tier panchayat elections after a crushing defeat in the 2018 Assembly elections, had filed a case in the Supreme Court, seeking an NRC for Tripura.
Since the Congress is opposing the NRC at the national level, Debbarman was asked to withdraw the case from the apex court in deference to the party position.
�But Debbarman has refused to withdraw his position on the NRC, leading to a direct tussle with the Congress high command. That might have prompted him to quit the party,� said a senior Congress functionary here today.
In a Facebook post, Debbarman said, �Woke up today after a long time feeling relaxed. I start this day without having to listen to criminals and liars. Not having to worry about which colleague will back stab you, not having to indulge in groupism and backchat. Not having to listen to �High Command� on how to accommodate corrupt people in high positions�.
He added, �I tried and perhaps I lost but then how could I win when I was alone in this fight from the beginning? I have decided that a positive mindset to life is what I need and I have changed the people around me who are negative. Today I can contribute for my state with a clear and honest mind. The Bubagra (king) in me is more powerful than any political post�.
Sources said that Debbarman who has considerable influence in the State�s tribal belt may float a new tribal-based party. The move could be a game changer in the State�s political landscape in the run-up to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council polls.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has declined to make any specific comments on the development, stating it was the Congress�s internal matter. �Personally, I respect Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, grandson of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, considered a pioneer of modern Tripura,� Deb said.
