War of words between Cong, BJP MLAs over CPIM boycott, Speaker urged to solve issues

Tripura Legislative Assembly witnessed intense exchanges between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress MLAs on Thursday, following demands for Speaker Biswabandhu Sen’s intervention to bring the principal opposition party, CPIM, back to the House on the fifth day of the ongoing Budget session.

Raising the issue after the Question Hour session, Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy remarked, "It is inappropriate for the House to function without the principal opposition. While I support Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha’s appeal, I urge the Speaker to step in and resolve the impasse."

The CPIM had announced a boycott of the remaining business days of the session on Wednesday, accusing Speaker Biswabandhu Sen of partisan conduct. The dispute erupted when Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury moved a privilege motion against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath for an alleged racial slur. However, the Speaker rejected the motion, citing that Minister Nath had already submitted a similar motion against the LoP earlier.

Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha later urged CPIM to return to the House. Addressing the matter, Speaker Biswabandhu Sen stated, “The Chief Minister, as Leader of the House, has appealed to them, but the final decision rests with the Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury.”

Defending the Speaker’s decision, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath accused the LoP of making unfounded allegations and showing disrespect. “In these circumstances, how can he appeal? The Leader of the House has already made the request, and that should be the final word. Remember, those who repeat the same mistakes every day are Communists. Why hasn’t Congress asked them to return?” said Minister Nath.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman thanked the Chief Minister for his appeal and stressed that the Speaker, as the custodian of the House, should personally invite the LoP to his chamber to resolve the deadlock.

However, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury dismissed Roy Barman’s appeal, recalling past incidents when CPIM was in power. “The Congress MLA seems to have forgotten how he was treated as Leader of the Opposition when CPIM ruled. Showing sympathy for CPIM now is completely undemocratic,” he remarked.