Mevar Kumar Jamatia, the former tribal welfare minister of the Biplab Deb led government, is the only MLA dropped from the newly constituted cabinet of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha led BJP-IPFT coalition government in Tripura.
Mevar Kumar Jamatia was replaced by another IPFT MLA Prem Kumar Reang while the only vacant seat in the cabinet went to BJP MLA Rampada Jamatia.
Meantime, Mevar held a State level convention in which no IPFT MLAs were seen to come out in support of Jamatia – this has sparked a speculation over the future of Jamatia’s political career.
Already under pressure owing to the inner party squabbles, Mevar Kumar Jamatia is facing serious uncertainty in his political career. After picking up a conflict with party’s supremo NC Debbarma, who maintained his place in the new cabinet, over the post of president, Jamatia is fast losing grounds as most of the seven IPFT MLAs rallied behind NC Debbarma who announced him as the IPFT president.
It seems the IPFT is set to witness a vertical split over the post of president. Already weakened significantly after TTAADC poll drubbing, a split will dampen the spirit of the Party.
On April, Mevar Kumar Jamatia replaced NC Debbarma from the chair of president and became chairman at a time, when the veteran Debbarma was ill. Almost a month later, NC Debbarma called a conference in which over 400 party leaders from different divisions participated. In that conference, NC Debbarma was selected as president dislodging Jamatia from the post.
Moreover, addressing a press conference, NC Debbarma, without naming anyone, talked about taking stern disciplinary actions against the leaders who were creating confusion.
In retaliation, Mevar Kumar Jamatia led faction of the IPFT organized a day long state convention at Agartala R S Bhawan on Monday. The convention was chaired by Mevar Kumar Jamatia.
Commenting on his omission from the new Cabinet, Mevar Kumar Jamatia said, “There might be a conspiracy against me to remove me from the cabinet, but I would look forward to work for the people and especially the indigenous groups of the state”.
Mevar Kumar Jamatia who failed to get positive responses from the IPFT MLAs for the convention held on Monday said, “MLAs are not important for me. What matters to me are the people of this state whom I want to and intend to serve. I have worked for the people and I shall continue doing the same despite all the odds.”
No MLAs other than IPFT workers were seen in the day long state convention of the IPFT party on Monday – and this is not a good sign for Jamatia. With his party not in his side, will he look to join other parties to keep his political career afloat? If so, which party will he pick up – BJP or Tipra Motha? – speculations on these two points are palpable among a section of party supporters.
