BJP MLA Tafajjal in eye of storm: Party issues show cause for remarks against senior leaders
Agartala/Boxanagar, Oct 19: BJP MLA from Boxanagar, Tafajjal Hossain, has been asked to submit a written explanation within five days for a recent statement against Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb and former Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik which deemed a breach of party discipline.
A segment of his speech, delivered at the final of the Boxanagar MLA Cup football tournament, has been circulating widely on social media.
In the video, Hossain can be heard commending BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Pradesh BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee for approving Rs 50 lakh from MPLAD funds for the Boxanagar Mini Stadium.
However, he also mentioned that despite his requests, current West Tripura Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb and former Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik had somewhat ignored his appeals.
The clip has been widely shared by party workers, media outlets, and critics of the MLA, who accused him of disrespecting senior party leaders who worked hard to establish BJP’s presence in Tripura, previously considered a Left stronghold.
The show-cause notice, dated October 19 and signed by BJP Tripura Pradesh General Secretary Amit Rakshit, instructs Hossain to justify his remarks within five days or face disciplinary action.
The notice stated that Hossain made the contentious comments on October 18 during the closing ceremony of the MLA Cup Football Tournament at Boxanagar Mini Stadium.
The BJP leadership described Hossain’s statements as “grossly indisciplined” and a “serious violation of the party’s code of conduct,” emphasizing that grievances should be addressed internally rather than in public forums. They noted that the remarks had “damaged the party’s image” and “embarrassed its leadership.”
Reacting to the controversy, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee criticized the MLA’s comments, saying they contradicted the party’s values. “I strongly condemn this statement. It breaches our party’s ethics. Disrespect toward our leaders will not be tolerated,” he said.
“Biplab Kumar Deb and Pratima Bhowmik are respected members of our party, and any anti-party remarks will be dealt with firmly,” Bhattacharjee added.
The show-cause notice has also been sent to BJP Tripura Pradesh President and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, as well as the party’s state in-charge Dr. Rajdeep Roy.
Although Hossain could not be contacted for comments, sources close to him said it was a slip of the tongue. “He may not have intended to convey that meaning. He was excited about the stadium’s development but failed to express it properly. The MLA prioritizes the party and has no previous record of violating discipline,” a source said.
It is noteworthy that Hossain won the by-election in his constituency by a record margin following the death of CPIM legislator Samsul Haque.
