As anticipated well in advance senior Congress leader and former minister Billal Mia along with hundreds of supporters and former Tipra-Motha leader Abu Khayer formally joined the ruling BJP in a mega joining programme held at Kulubari school ground under Sonamura subdivision of Sepahijala district on Thursday.

During the joining programme, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Dr Mahesh Sharma, the BJP in-charge for Tripura, state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee and few ministers and MLAs of the party were present. Altogether 1900 families of Congress and Tipra-Motha supporters joined the BJP and they were welcomed by the leaders with party flags.

In the huge gathering of people in a rally organized by the BJP, Billal Mia formally joined the BJP by accepting the party flag from the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee and other leaders. Addressing the rally Billal called upon the people to ensure forfeiture of deposit of the CPI (M) candidate Mizan Hossain , sharply criticizing the policies, programmes and activities of the CPI (M) in Boxanagar.

The chief minister Dr Manik Saha and other senior BJP leaders including the AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder also appealed to the people of Boxanagar to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Tofajjal Husain in the interest of development of the constituency. Dr Saha promised to keep his special attention focused on Boxanagar as well as to resolve the burning problems.

Chief Minister said that in the coming days, both opposition political parties of Tripura including CPI(M) and Congress will disappear akin to requiring a microscope to locate them.

"Congress is a party of unruly not only in Tripura but also across the entire country. Congress is gradually fading away, and soon, many more people will defect. What we are witnessing today is a trailer; the main event is still pending. A day will arrive when individuals will abandon Congress to join the BJP. The people of Tripura never truly supported CPIM. It was due to Congress that CPIM managed to rule the state. The people of our state suffered the consequences of their misrule. Numerous lives were lost. We have observed the violent incidents that transpired during elections, but under the governance of the BJP, political killings stopped”, he said.

He highlighted the significant improvement in law and order within the state, emphasizing that the current government treats all religions equally, following the "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas".

"During the Left Front regime, Boxanagar Assembly Constituency experienced numerous deaths. I have personally witnessed the neglect this constituency faced and pledged to address such issues. Through the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, 6672 houses were sanctioned for Boxanagar, with 67% of houses being connected to the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). This government working transparently, adhering to the guidance of the Prime Minister," Dr Saha said. He recalled that CPIM secured 16 seats in the 2018 elections, which reduced to 11 in 2023.

“I am confident that this number will continue to decrease. I am certain that Tafajjal's victory is imminent. In coming days, both CPIM and Congress will vanish. Their presence will require a microscope to detect. These parties are perpetually self-centered, with little regard for the people's welfare. Conversely, our party consistently works for the betterment of the people. While CPIM and Congress thrive on division, our aim is unity, with stalwart leaders like PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda guiding us," Dr Saha said. He affirmed that his visit to Boxanagar confirmed Tafajjal Hossain's impending victory.

During the program, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya, BJP state prabhari Dr Mahesh Sarma, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma, Food and civil supply minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy, Tripura Assembly Chief Whip Kalyani Roy, BJP general secretary Papia Datta, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder and others were present.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the opposition parties suffered a setback as the working president of Pradesh Congress and former Minister Billal Mia submitted his resignation before the AICC president.

While, the president of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), Ashish Kumar Saha has also taken immediate action against Billal Mia for his proximate relationship with BJP and expelled from the primary membership of Congress for a period of six years with immediate effect for his anti-party activities.

It may be recalled here that the joining of Billa Mia into BJP. Just weeks before the crucial by-elections in Boxanagar and Dhanpur assembly constituencies under Sonamura subdivision of Tripura’s Sepahijala district, might have far-reaching consequences for the opposition vote bank in the upcoming by-elections.

The vacuum created with the resignation of senior Congress leader and a strong anti-Left leader of the Sepahijala district, will give extra-mileage to the ruling party and their poll campaigns in both seats for September 5th by-elections.