Union minister Pratima Bhoumik resigns as MLA of Tripura

Union Minister of state, Pratima Bhoumik on Wednesday tendered her resignation as MLA of the Dhanpur assembly constituency before the Protem speaker as the rules do not permit her to work as MP and MLA simultaneously.

Union minister Pratima Bhoumik, who had recently contested and won elections from the traditional Left bastion  Dhanpur seat with good margin by defeating nearest CPI(M) candidate Kaushik Chanda.

After submitting her resignation before the Protem speaker, Pratima Bhoumik speaking with media persons  thanked the electors of Dhanpur constituency for ensuring her victory in the "relatively tough" contest from the seat that was earlier held by former chief minister Manik Sarkar.

She said that her party (BJP) high command allowed her to contest the assembly election, despite being a MP and an Union minister.  “The rules don't permit me to work as MP and MLA simultaneously. I have tendered my resignation as MLA today as per the directive of my party ," said Bhoumik.

“I had contested the assembly election with permission from the party’s central leadership and was blessed by them ; my victory in the election is the victory of the people of Dhanpur ; they have loved me and continue to love me as sister or daughter ;today I have resigned my seat in the assembly as per wishes of the party’s central leadership” said Pratima.

The minister of state for social justice and empowerment promised the people of Dhanpur that all commitments of development that she had made before elections will be fulfilled by the BJP-IPFT government and she will maintain her promise given to the voters of Dhanpur assembly constituency.

Protem Speaker Binoy Bhusan Das said that her resignation has been accepted as the rules, she cannot hold two posts of MP and MLA simultaneously. Das also said that after the resignation of  Bhoumik as MLA, Dhanpur assembly constituency is set to witness a by-election in next six months.