Agartala, Sep 12, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Sept 12: Two newly elected members of Tripura legislative assembly in the recent concluded by-elections were sworn in as MLAs on Tuesday in a ceremonial function.

Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen administered the oath of office and secrecy in a program held at the assembly lobby in presence of Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly Ram Prasad Pal, chief minister Dr Manik Saha, other cabinet ministers and party MLAs.

MLAs Tofajjal Hossain who won from the 20-Boxanagar seat and Bindu Debnath who won from the 23-Dhanpur seat thanked the voters for showing trust in them with the votes.

MLA Tofajjal Hossain said, “I am extremely grateful to the common people who have sent me to the assembly by pouring their blessings with the precious votes”.

“Having assigned the responsibility, I will try to solve the basic issues of drinking water, electricity, proper roads and health”, he said.

MLA Bindu Debnath while speaking to the media persons said, “I will try to fulfill the aspirations of the common people who have voted me to the position. With the party’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Biswas’, I will work towards overall development of my constituency”.

“Minorities and other communities will be treated equally without any differentiation. Issues like lack of adequate number of teachers in the schools, electricity will be taken up on priority basis”, he added.

Expressing his opinion over the induction of two more BJP MLAs in the assembly, chief minister Dr Manik Saha said, “We are extremely happy with the massive win of party candidates Toffajal Hossain and Bindu Debnath who have assumed the office as MLAs from today. Our party’s strength has reached to 34 in the assembly including one MLA cum Minister from ally IPFT”.

However, the opposition CPIM and Congress were not seen in the assembly premises on Tuesday as they announced a boycott of the swearing-in ceremony.

Both state party chiefs of CPI-M and Congress when asked about the reason behind boycott said, “When the elections were farce what is the meaning of counting and swearing in”.

TPCC president Asish Kumar Saha said, “We don’t consider and recognize Toffajal Hossain and Bindu Debnath as MLAs as the entire voting process was a got-up game. Votes were looted, people were beaten up and compelled to press the Lotus symbol in the polling booths”.

CPI-M state secretary and MLA Jiten Choudhury said, “The BJP used its power and the entire state machinery including the police administration and ECI was a part of what happened in Boxanagar and Dhanpur. There was no vote at all and therefore, we do not support the swearing in ceremony of the candidates who won by cheating, looting and violence”.