Will Tripura CM Expand Cabinet Tomorrow?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Manik Saha is expanding his cabinet on July 3.
- The induction of Kishore Barman is highly anticipated.
- The BJP-IPFT coalition maintains a majority in the Assembly.
- Political dynamics in Tripura are shifting post-2023 elections.
- The TMP has emerged as a significant force in local politics.
Agartala, July 2 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, is set to enlarge his council of ministers on July 3, as per sources disclosed on Wednesday.
According to these sources, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the Raj Bhavan on the Chief Minister's recommendation.
One name that is frequently mentioned is Kishore Barman, a BJP MLA who secured his position from the Nalchar constituency in the Sepahijala district during the 2023 Assembly elections.
In accordance with the constitutional guidelines, the council of ministers can consist of up to 12 members, including the Chief Minister. Currently, one ministerial position remains unfilled, with at least five BJP MLAs vying for the vacant roles.
The BJP, in coalition with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), led by Saha, regained power on March 8, 2023, marking their second consecutive term. After a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), led by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, joined the coalition following their independent contest in the 2023 Assembly polls.
This resulted in the induction of two TMP MLAs, Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, into the ministry.
At present, the IPFT has one minister, Sukla Charan Noatia, within the 11-member council. The BJP-IPFT coalition successfully retained power in Tripura by winning 33 out of 60 Assembly seats.
In its first Assembly election, the TMP achieved significant success, winning 13 out of 42 contested seats, emerging as the second-largest party after the BJP.
The CPI-M secured 11 seats, while the Congress won three, with both the CPI-M-led Left Front and Congress collaborating on a seat-sharing arrangement.
The TMP gained political traction in April 2021 after winning control of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, which oversees two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km territory, home to over 1,216,000 residents, approximately 84% of whom are tribal.