Agartala, May 29:
Just ahead of the politically significant Village Council elections in Tripura’s tribal areas, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday formally handed over the charge of the party’s state unit to newly appointed president Abhishek Debroy, signalling a renewed organisational push with a focus on youth leadership and grassroots mobilisation.
The organisational transition took place at the BJP state headquarters in Agartala in presence of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, former state president and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, BJP Tripura in-charge Rajdeep Roy and senior party leaders.
The appointment of Debroy, a first-time young state president who rose through the ranks from mandal leadership to district president and later MLA from Matabari constituency, comes at a crucial political juncture for the ruling BJP.
The Village Council elections, which expired around five years ago, to be held in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas are expected within the next two months following directions of the Supreme Court, making the polls a major political test for the new BJP leadership in the state.
The elections are also being viewed as an important test for Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and the BJP organisation after the party suffered a major setback in the last TTAADC elections where its ally TIPRA Motha emerged dominant in the tribal council areas.
Addressing reporters after officially taking charge, Debroy asserted that the BJP is “not a party for power but for social change” and stressed the need to strengthen the organisation by taking everyone together.
“We are one BJP family. Ours is not a party that only thinks about power. The party believes in social transformation,” he said.
Debroy underlined the importance of respecting senior leaders while encouraging greater participation of youths in the organisation. He said the party’s ideological principle of “Nation First, Self Last” must reach the grassroots and every section of society.
“Our senior karyakartas built this party with sacrifice and dedication. They deserve respect. At the same time, younger workers have to be encouraged and brought forward,” he said.
Rejecting suggestions of serious internal factionalism, Debroy said any isolated organisational issues should be collectively resolved in the interest of strengthening the party.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, while welcoming the new state president, described Debroy as a hardworking and capable organiser who climbed the party ladder through dedication and grassroots work.
“He worked as a mandal leader, district president and now has become the state president. He is extremely industrious and capable,” Saha said.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that under Debroy’s leadership the BJP would become more organised and politically stronger in the coming days.
Saha also stressed the importance of promoting young leadership within the party, saying youths bring energy and enthusiasm that strengthen the organisation. “Seeing him, more youths will come forward and join the party,” he added.
He further said the BJP organisation must effectively communicate the developmental works and welfare initiatives of the state government to the people and expressed confidence that Debroy would lead that effort successfully.
With the politically sensitive tribal dominated Village Council elections approaching, Debroy’s elevation is being viewed as the BJP central leadership’s attempt to inject fresh energy into the organisation and regain political ground in tribal areas where the party has faced electoral challenges in recent years.
