Tripura: Ex-BJP MLA expelled from party, likely to return to Cong

I am going to join the Congress in the presence of senior party leader Priyanka Gandhi who is scheduled to visit Tripura in the middle of December, Bhowmik, who was once a leader of Trinamool Congress, told reporters after his expulsion.Expressing his disappointment over the state BJPs activities, Bhowmik said he had tried to meet Chief Minister Manik Saha twice but failed.I think the BJP in Tripura has many better leaders than the incumbent chief minister.

The Tripura unit of BJP on Thursday expelled its former MLA Arun Chandra Bhowmik from the party for six years for his alleged involvement in ‘anti-party' activities.

The expulsion comes a day after Bhowmik visited the Congress Bhavan here and held a meeting with Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee chief Asish Kumar Saha.

“For violating discipline and indulging in anti-party activities, our former MLA from Belonia constituency in South Tripura, Arun Chandra Bhowmik, has been expelled from the party for six years. This came into effect immediately,'' Sunit Sakar, the party’s media in-charge, told reporters. Bhowmik, a veteran lawyer, joined the BJP ahead of the 2018 assembly polls, deserting the Congress and won the election from Belonia seat.

He was denied a ticket in the 2023 assembly election and remained sidelined since then.

“Call it Ghar Vypasi.... I am going to join the Congress in the presence of senior party leader Priyanka Gandhi who is scheduled to visit Tripura in the middle of December,'' Bhowmik, who was once a leader of Trinamool Congress, told reporters after his expulsion.

Expressing his disappointment over the state BJP's activities, Bhowmik said he had tried to meet Chief Minister Manik Saha twice but failed.

“I think the BJP in Tripura has many better leaders than the incumbent chief minister. I don’t know why competent persons are not getting a chance at the important position,'' he said.

Bhowmik also claimed that six to seven BJP MLAs will leave the party within a short period.