Unquiet Agartala

His controversial comments aside, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb’s government is facing a much bigger crisis

- Rabi Banerjee

In his two months as Tripura chief minister, Biplab Deb has made a slew of controversial, if not laughable, remarks. He first said that the internet dates back to the days of the Mahabharat. Then, he said that unlike Aishwarya Rai (Miss World 1994), Diana Hayden (Miss World 1997) did not represent true Indian beauty. He continued with his “viral” comments, saying only civil, and not mechanical engineers, should apply for civil services. Netizens were in splits. Said Tripura Congress president Birajit Sinha, “People of Tripura did not know much about him before he was made chief minister. Good that the prime minister has let us all know about this hidden talent.”

Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, however, did not see the humour in the situation. And, they have called Deb to Delhi on May 6. His office told THE WEEK: “He is busy preparing for the meeting. He would have to prepare a list of projects for Tripura to seek funds from the prime minister.”

Sources, however, said that Deb’s comments were only part of the reason he was summoned to the capital. Apparently, Tripura’s fledgling government in facing a deeper crisis. “Nothing is going as we had dreamed of in Tripura,” said a Muslim BJP leader. “The chief minister is turning out to be a dictator and does not want to get along with other leaders of the party. He wants to be surrounded by sycophants and is pushing the people, who made the real parivartan (change) in Tripura, to the brink of disaster. The chief minister is out of his senses. And, that is reflected in his series of comments.”