BJP leader Manik Saha on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of Tripura for a second term in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP-IPFT coalition government led by Saha featuring eight other ministers was also sworn in at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan today in the state capital Agartala.

BJP members Ratan Lal Nath, Pranajit Singha Roy, Santana Chakma, Tinku Roy, Bikash Debbarma, Sudhangshu Das and Sushanta Chowdhury took oath as Tripura ministers today. The sole winner from the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura — Sukla Charan Noatia — was also sworn in as a minister today.

Of these inducted ministers, five were new faces, while four ministers who were in the earlier cabinet found a place in the new line-up.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda also joined the prime minister in the sensitive border state of Tripura for the swearing-in ceremony. They were also joined by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.

The opposition Left and the Congress, on the other hand, are not participating in the oath-taking ceremony to protest against post-poll violence in the northeastern state.

“This is the first time that any anti-Left government has retained power in the northeastern state in the past three decades. We hope the BJP 2.0 government will meet the aspirations of the people,” said Subrata Chakraborty, the BJP Tripura unit chief spokesperson.

ALSO READ | Tripura Election Result 2023: BJP-IPFT alliance wins 33 seats, secures second term

The BJP won a majority of 32 seats in the 60-member House in the recent assembly elections in Tripura, while its ally IPFT managed to secure one seat. The Congress and Left parties, who were in power in the state for several years, were defeated in the elections.

Reacting to the Tripura election results on March 2, Modi tweeted thanking voters and assuring them that they had voted for progress and stability.

"@BJP4Tripura will continue to boost the state's growth trajectory. I am proud of all Tripura BJP Karyakartas for their spectacular efforts at the grassroots," Modi had said.

Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, Saha performed a puja at the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Agartala.

Reactions pour in

Tipra Motha Party's chief Pradyot Manikya congratulated Saha for his victory and wished him luck for his second term.

"Wishing the Hon Cm of Tripura @DrManikSaha2 the very best . May the state prosper and one under the blessings of Ma Tripura Sundari . As a 2nd largest party in the state we will always work for the interest of the people of the state," Manikya tweeted.

The newcomer TIPRA Motha, which was hoping to secure all 20 Scheduled Caste reserved seats in the state, emerged as the second/third largest party with 13 seats in the elections.

First Published:Mar 8, 2023 11:14 AM IST