Tripura: Leader of the Opposition and CPIM State Committee Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury has voiced strong opposition to the Tripura government’s alleged decision to lease the historic Pushpabanta Palace to a private company for conversion into a hotel.
In a press statement, Chaudhury called for the immediate cancellation of the agreement, urging the government to restore the original plan of transforming the palace into a Rabindra Smriti Kendra and a Children’s Cultural Center.
Expressing shock over the decision, Chaudhury highlighted the palace’s deep historical and cultural significance. Once the residence of the Lieutenant Governor after Tripura’s accession to the Indian Union in 1949, and later the Governor’s residence post-statehood in 1972, the palace also holds a cherished connection to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
“Rabindranath Tagore visited Pushpabanta Palace several times during his seven trips to Tripura,” Chaudhury noted, adding that the poet’s famous work Bisarjan, inspired by Tripura, is believed to have been written at the palace.
Chaudhury criticized the BJP-Tipra Motha-IPFT coalition government for allegedly sidelining the cultural heritage of Tripura in favor of corporate interests. He recalled that the previous Left Front government had proposed converting the palace into a Rabindra Smriti Kendra and a Children’s Cultural Center while constructing the new Governor’s residence at the New Capital Complex. According to Chaudhury, Rs 30 crore had been sanctioned by the Finance Commission for the new Raj Bhavan under this cultural preservation plan.
“It is deeply regrettable that this government has chosen to violate that vision, sidelining public interest and the state’s rich heritage. The move to prioritize corporate use over cultural preservation is unacceptable and undermines Tripura’s traditions,” Chaudhury said.
He demanded that the agreement, reportedly made with the Tata Group, be revoked immediately. Reiterating the importance of preserving the palace as a cultural landmark, Chaudhury emphasized that it should serve as a tribute to Tagore’s legacy and provide a creative space for children, aligning with the original plan.
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