Newly-elected MLAs of BJP-IPFT alliance, which stormed to power in Tripura, will on Tuesday deliberate upon the various aspects of government formation in the presence of central observers — Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jual Oram.
Gadkari and Oram, who were appointed as central observers by the Parliamentary Board of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will meet the legislators to ascertain their views on government formation.
Tripura BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik had earlier said that the new BJP ministry in Tripura would most likely assume office within this week.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party’s national president Amit Shah, several central leaders and Chief Ministers of various states are likely to be present during the swearing-in ceremony, date of which will be finalised soon, he said.
A BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said that party’s Tripura unit chief Biplab Kumar Deb is the most favoured leader for the post of Chief Minister and he would likely be elected as the BJP-IPFT legislature group leader in Tuesday’s meeting.
Deb, who defeated the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) nominee and party’s youth leader Amal Chakraborty in the Banamalipur constituency by a margin of 9,549 votes, won the electoral battle in his maiden attempt.
The BJP-IPFT coalition swept the February 18 polls, the results of which were declared on Saturday, winning 43 of the 59 seats for which elections were held.
The BJP secured 35 seats in the 60-member assembly, while ally IPFT, a tribal-based party, won eight seats. The CPI-M got only 16 seats, while the Congress drew a blank.
Elections were held for 59 seats and countermanded in one (Charilam seat, reserved for tribal) following the death of CPI-M candidate a week before the polls.