Opposition member, 12 others join BJP

A Congress-elected panchayat member and 12 voters joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in North Tripura district on Sunday. 

The joining programme was held at Baghan Gram Panchayat under the Kadamtala–Kurti Assembly constituency. Shahabuddin, an elected member from Ward No. 4 of the panchayat, formally switched allegiance to the BJP along with members of his family and relatives, taking the total number of new entrants to 13. ‘

The event took place at Shahabuddin’s residence in Baghan village in the presence of Kadamtala–Kurti Mandal president Bimal Purkayastha and other party leaders, including Azmal Hossain and Shyamal Deb. The new entrants were welcomed with party flags.

Addressing the gathering, Purkayastha attributed the defections to what he described as the “development initiatives” undertaken by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. He claimed that more opposition supporters were likely to join the BJP in the coming days.

Baghan was earlier considered a Congress stronghold. However, the BJP had secured control of the gram panchayat in the last three-tier panchayat elections. With the latest development, the ruling party has further consolidated its position in the local body, party leaders asserted.