Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has dropped Health Minister Sudip Roy Barman from the Cabinet, a state government notification said.
Barman, who had joined the BJP from the Trinamool Congress two years ago, was removed on Friday night, a week after Deb warned of stern action against “enemies in the BJP”. Party leaders on condition of anonymity claimed that 56-year-old Barman was dropped due to “anti-party activities”. Barman could not be reached for a comment.
A notification of the Department of General Administration (Confidential and Cabinet) issued late on Friday night said the departments held by Barman would be reassigned to the chief minister and Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Devvarma.
A five-time MLA, Barman, was the leader of the opposition and president of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC). He joined Trinamool Congress in 2016, and then defected to the BJP in 2017 with a group of Congress MLAs.
There were demands of cabinet reshuffle in the party, BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said.
“Three cabinet berths were not filled up when the new cabinet of the BJP-IPFT government took oath of office. With Barman’s exit another berth became vacant,” he told PTI.
The BJP-IPFT government came to power in the state one-and-a-half years ago.
The chief minister, who holds seven portfolios including home, would now also be in charge of the departments such as PWD (Drinking Water and Sanitation), Industries and Commerce (IT) and Health and Family Welfare. (PTI)
