
Tripura: BJP MLA Kishor Barman sworn in as cabinet minister
BJP MLA from Nalchhar, Kishor Barman, was on Thursday sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Manik Saha government in Tripura in the presence of Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu. Chief minister Saha, his council of ministers and other administrative officials were also present. BJP MLA Kishor Barman. (Photo from X)
Barman is a first-time MLA after winning the 2023 Assembly polls on a BJP ticket. He completed his post graduation in Bengali from Tripura University in 2004.
He was engaged with the BJP's organisational work in West Bengal for a long period, after which he was made the party general secretary in Tripura in 2021.
This is the second time in two years when the BJP-led state government has expanded its cabinet after coming back to power in 2023.
In March last year, TIPRA Motha party MLAs Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma were sworn in as minister and minister of state, a day after the party joined the BJP-IPFT government.
Of the 60 members in the Tripura legislative assembly, 32 are from the BJP, one from IPFT who is also serving as minister in the cabinet, 13 MLAs from TIPRA Motha, 10 from the CPIM and three from the Congress.
Currently, among 12 seats in the state cabinet, nine are occupied by BJP lawmakers, one by the TIPRA Motha and one by IPFT.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
CPI(M) Alleges Ties to Abhishek Banerjee, Massive Corruption in Deocha-Pachami Coal Project
Bankura: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the controversial Deocha-Pachami coal mining project in Birbhum district of West Bengal. At a press conference held on July 3 at the party's state headquarters on Alimuddin Street, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim alleged large-scale corruption, environmental violations, and illegal tender procedures, accusing both the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government and the BJP-led Union government of complicity. Salim presented evidence alleging that the state government secured environmental clearance for the project fraudulently. He claimed the union environment ministry had granted clearance for a mere 12 acres, despite the project's actual size being over 431 hectares, which would necessitate a mandatory public hearing and full environmental scrutiny as a Category A project. 'This environmental certificate is practically fraudulent and was given under the auspices of the BJP-led Union government. Both the Centre and the state are responsible,'alleged Salim. The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) awarded the mining contract in March 2024 to Trancemarine & Confreight Logistics Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based firm with no prior mining experience, at a 71.05% revenue share. In April, 2025 Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, a Kolkata-based firm, acquired 60% of Trancemarine for a mere Rs 4.23 crore. Himadri also issued a Rs 150 crore loan to Sturdy Niketan, an obscure entity with no turnover, allegedly for royalty payments. According to a company release, Trancemarine's annual turnover for FY23-24 was Rs 35.69 crore, much higher than what Himadri is paying for its acquisition. 'Once someone is given a tender, it cannot be passed to someone else. This is a direct violation of WBPDCL policy. Sturdy Niketan, which has zero income, is being used as a front for illicit financial flows,' Salim claimed. Interestingly, Himadri Chemicals, now central to the project, had earlier invested in Tidings Media & Communication Pvt Ltd, which acquired the Bengali daily Ei Samay from the Times Group. One of Tidings' major stakeholders is Sanjay Basu, known to be a legal advisor and close confidante of both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, the Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. In February 2025, CM Banerjee claimed at the Bengal Global Business Summit that coal mining had begun at Deucha-Pachami and promised over one lakh jobs. However, CPI(M) pointed out that WBPDCL has not even submitted the required geological report or mining plan to the Union coal ministry, 66 months after the coal block was allotted in overall project, including basalt mining, is expected to generate over Rs 1,500 crore in profits, raising serious questions about insider profiteering. 'Where is the coal? It was said that above 100,000 people would be employed, where is employment? The fact is that stones will be extracted from that land,' Salim said. Documents indicate that the coal mining lease process remains incomplete, and no private company applied to mine the block even after two deadline extensions in 2025. In November 2023, the state government authorised WBPDCL to mine basalt on 431.47 acres, with an estimated profit of Rs 5,600 crore. In June 2024, Pachami Basalt Mining PrivateLimited was incorporated in Kolkata. Neither Sturdy Niketan nor Pachami Basalt Mining Private Limited has an official website, and their corporate listing links to Basalt mining began in Deucha-Pachami site in February this year, but locals demanded a permanent halt, citing severe environmental and health hazards and alleging that forest land was cleared without informing the resident tribal communities.


Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
YSRCP made AP a debt-ridden State, asserts Savitha
Somandepalli: Minister Savitha on Thursday launched a scathing attack on YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of resorting to 'corpse politics' to stay relevant. She stated that under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu, the NDA government is progressing with development and welfare as its two eyes. Participating in the 'First Step Towards Good Governance' programme held at Somandepalli mandal headquarters, the minister visited households to gather direct feedback from citizens on the one-year performance of the NDA-led government. She personally interacted with people to understand whether they received welfare scheme benefits and instructed officials to immediately address any lapses in delivery. She expressed satisfaction at the public's positive response and stated that although there are no elections at present, the NDA leaders are stepping into the public domain to assess the government's impact, following Chandrababu Naidu's directive. 'Unlike the previous YSRCP government, which distanced itself from people after coming to power, we are engaging directly with the public,' she said. Taking a dig at Jagan, she remarked that his 'Recall Manifesto' campaign is merely an attempt to assert his political relevance. 'Corpse politics has become Jagan's habit,' she added, criticising his approach to public issues. She asserted that within just one year, the NDA has brought Andhra Pradesh back on track after the damage caused during the YSRCP regime. She said that Chandrababu's governance gives equal importance to both development and welfare and that all election promises are being fulfilled. She concluded by saying that the only thing Jagan did during his five-year rule was deceive the people. The event was attended by NDA alliance leaders and party workers from Somandepalli mandal.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Nirmala Sitharaman, D Purandeswari among likely picks for BJP president: Report
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is undergoing a major organisational rejig. After the appointment of party chiefs for local units in six states and Union territories, the BJP is now shifting focus on appointing its national president. (L-R) BJP leaders D Purandeswari, Nirmala Sitharaman and Vanathi Srinivasan. JP Nadda has held the party's national president post since 2020. His term ended in 2023, but the BJP extended it till 2024 so he could steer the party through the Lok Sabha elections. While a suspense remains on who would hold the key post, sources have told Live Hindustan that the party may get its first ever woman president. A look at probable names: Nirmala Sitharaman BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman has been holding the Finance Minister since 2019, after the BJP was elected for a second term. She is being seen as one of the frontrunners for the BJP President post, being one of the more influential women in the party. Her roots in Tamil Nadu can also be an advantage to the BJP, given the party's push down south. She recently also met with JP Nadda and BJP General Secretary BL Santhosh in the party headquarters. D Purandeswari Formerly the BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit chief, D Purandeswari is also one of the probables who may hold the national president post. She was also part of the government's Operation Sindoor delegation that represented the country's anti-terrorism stance in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the EU, Italy and Denmark. Vanathi Srinivasan Vanathi Srinivasan has held the post of BJP Mahila Morcha National President. In 2021, she defeated actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan, and won the Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore (South) seat. She has been associated with the BJP since 1993 and became a member of the BJP's Central Election Committee in 2022. Why is BJP looking at a woman face? The BJP has seen success in influencing women voters in the recent past, which could be one of the reasons why it is now looking at making a woman hold the post of party's national president, sources told Live Hindustan. Besides, the BJP also pushed for the women's reservation bill in 2023, which cleared both houses of Parliament. The bill seeks 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Appointing a woman president for the party could also send a message that the BJP was aligning with the bill.