In a recent by-election, Rajib Bhattacharjee, who contested on a BJP ticket, has been elected as the representative for Tripura. He expressed his gratitude to the MLAs who supported him and thanked the Bharatiya Janata Party for placing their trust in him. He also promised to work diligently towards the development of Tripura, with the support of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. The by-election was held after the resignation of Biplab Kumar Deb, who was successful in the 2024 general elections for the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat.
The flood situation in Tripura has worsened with the death toll rising to 10 and over 34,100 people taking refuge in relief camps. Chief Minister Manik Saha has sought additional help from the National Disaster Response Force and has also reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for assistance. The heavy rains in the past 48 hours have caused landslides, drownings and damages to over 1,055 houses and hundreds of trees, affecting many areas in the state.
The World Meetei Council has reached out to Prime Minister Modi, urging him to take immediate action in resolving the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur. The WMC's Tripura unit president highlights the alarming statistics of over 225 lives lost and thousands left homeless in the past 15 months. The WMC leader stresses the responsibility of the Prime Minister in restoring peace and ending the shameful chapter in Manipur's history.
The State Election Commission of Tripura has announced that it will publish the results of the three-tier Panchayat elections on its official website, allowing citizens to view them in real-time. This move is a significant step forward in enhancing transparency and providing timely information to the public. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has already won a majority of seats uncontested in the state's panchayat system.
Amidst an ongoing surge in monsoon-related ailments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a 'token system' for efficient queue management in the outpatient department (OPD) of its hospitals. This system is expected to reduce waiting times for patients, especially senior citizens, pregnant women, and children. In a meeting, the civic body also emphasized the importance of hospital staff treating patients and their families with politeness and care, and collecting feedback to improve service quality. Meanwhile, protests continue in Tripura against the violence towards minorities in post-student movement Bangladesh, with cultural activists wearing black ribbons to express their concerns and Hindu organizations urging India and Bangladesh to establish protocols for the safety of Hindus.
In a major shakeup of state governors, President Droupadi Murmu has announced the appointment of six new governors and the replacement of three existing governors. This includes the appointment of close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, K Kailashnathan, as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Veteran BJP leader Om Prakash Mathur will also assume the role of governor of Sikkim, while former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, Jishnu Dev Varma, has been appointed as the new governor of Telangana. Additionally, the governor positions of Assam, Manipur, and Maharashtra will also see new appointees.
In a late Saturday night announcement, President Droupadi Murmu named nine new governors for various states, including BJP veteran Santosh Gangwar as the Governor of Jharkhand. The appointments come after the BJP faced significant setbacks in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Other notable appointments include former Deputy CM of Tripura Jishnu Dev Varma as Governor of Congress-ruled Telangana and retired IAS officer K Kailashnathan as Lt Governor of Puducherry.
In a heartwarming gesture, Tripura CM Manik Saha has sent a consignment of Queen pineapples to Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Ji as a symbol of the strong and friendly relations between the two countries. The act has been praised by both nations and is seen as a reaffirmation of the mutual respect and cooperation shared between the leaders. Tripura's famous pineapples, known for their quality and sweetness, make for a perfect gift to symbolize the warmth and camaraderie between India and Bangladesh.
The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act tribunal has confirmed the ban on the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) for their involvement in kidnapping, extortion, and other unlawful activities, including their operation from Bangladesh. The tribunal's review of evidence and materials presented by the Central and Tripura governments concluded that the groups are actively seeking to further their secessionist agendas through new recruitments and expansion of sympathizers, posing a significant threat to the nation's security and integrity. The tribunal's decision was made public this week, validating the union home ministry's declaration of the groups as "unlawful associations" in October 2023.
Biplab Kumar Deb, BJP candidate for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, has claimed that veteran CPI-M leader Manik Sarkar is not willing to vote for Congress candidate Ashish Kumar Saha. Deb stated that Sarkar, known for always voting for Left party candidates, is not in favour of the CPI-M's alliance with Congress. He urged Sarkar to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, CPI-M state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury clarified that the Left Front has decided to fight together with its allies, including Congress, as part of the INDIA bloc to defeat the BJP.