Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha’s announcement to rechristen Agartala’s four-decade-old Town Hall in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee has ignited a fierce political tussle, drawing strong condemnation from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress. The move, unveiled by Saha during a programme commemorating Mookerjee’s birth anniversary on Sunday, also includes plans to install a statue of the Jana Sangh founder at the premises.
The Chief Minister’s declaration has been met with immediate and vocal opposition. Jitendra Chaudhury, CPI(M) MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, vehemently objected to the decision. In a live Facebook post, Chaudhury acknowledged the historical significance of the four-decade-old structure and, while not opposing the recognition of Mookerjee, suggested an alternative. He urged the government to construct a new, larger auditorium in the city, an acknowledged need for Agartala, and then name it after Syama Prasad Mookerjee, contending that such an act would constitute a “true tribute” to the leader. Chaudhury, who also serves as the state secretary of the CPI(M), emphasised the city’s dire need for a spacious venue, citing frequent unavailability of halls for cultural and social events. He reiterated his party’s respect for Mookerjee, despite ideological differences, and stressed that a new, purpose-built auditorium would be a more fitting honour.
Echoing similar sentiments, Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Asish Kumar Saha on Monday registered his strong dissent against the government’s proposal. He affirmed that the Congress, too, is not against honouring prominent personalities, but maintained that any such renaming should be contingent upon the construction of a much-needed large auditorium in the city.