Jayanta Debnath

With the objective of further strengthening democratic values, a special seminar and workshop was organized by the Tripura Legislative Assembly on 27 February at Pragya Bhavan in Agartala. The one-day programme, titled “Responsibility and Accountability of Public Representatives to All Sections of People,” was perhaps organized for the first time in India.

Notably, despite being a large-scale event, there was no excessive publicity, banners, or flex displays as seen in many other government programmes. The event was conducted with restraint and dignity. Organized in accordance with the guidelines of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the workshop saw participation from representatives of almost all political parties in Tripura, an uncommon example in the recent political context of the country.

The programme was inaugurated by the Governor of Tripura, Indra Sena Nallu Reddy. The Chief Minister, Dr. Manik Saha, attended as the Chief Guest, while the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, was present as Special Guest and keynote speaker. Members of the Council of Ministers, MLAs, and elected representatives from municipal bodies, Zilla Parishads, and Nagar Panchayats were also in attendance.

In their speeches, the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Deputy Chairman unanimously emphasized that democracy becomes strong only when public representatives discharge their duties with transparency, integrity, and accountability.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha stated, “Accountability to the people is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. The foremost duty of public representatives is to listen to the people and treat them with humility and respect.

Genuine public connection is built through a smiling face and courteous behavior.”He further mentioned that if the current leadership wishes to be remembered with respect by the next generation, dedication and responsibility must be adopted as guiding principles. He called for collective efforts beyond party lines to build “One Tripura, Best Tripura” and a “New Tripura.”

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, stressed adherence to the Constitution, preservation of parliamentary traditions, and the maintenance of transparency in public life. He opined that such initiatives should be organized regularly in every state of the country, as they would further strengthen India’s parliamentary democracy.

The programme was organized through the sincere initiative of Deputy Speaker whobis also the acting speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Ramprasad Paul, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratanlal Nath, and Chief Whip Kalyani Roy, under the guidance of the CPA India Region. Most participating representatives described the programme as timely and commendable, emphasizing that such self-review workshops involving representatives from the Assembly to the Panchayat level should be organized at least once a year.

Among those who addressed the gathering were BJP MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, Kriti Singh Debbarma, Minister Ratanlal Nath, Animesh Debbarma, Congress MLA Gopal Roy and CPIM Dipankar Sen, along with representatives from various political parties. Although unable to attend in person, MP Biplab Deb delivered a brief address via video conference from Kolkata and wished the programme success.

The written speech of Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury ( CPIM) was read out by CPI(M) MLA Sudip Sarkar. In his message, Chaudhury thanked and congratulated Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Paul and his team for organizing the workshop and requested that such programmes be held annually on a broader scale.

Not only the Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Leader of the Opposition, but all speakers at the event expressed appreciation to the Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul and the organizing team for hosting such an initiative.

Member of Parliament from Silchar, Assam, Parimal Suklabaidya said that the active and constructive role of public representatives is essential in building “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.” He expressed the view that the workshop organized by Tripura Legislative Assembly’s Acting Speaker Ramprasad Paul to remind public representatives of their duties and responsibilities is highly timely and appropriate.

Since the political change in Tripura in 2018, the state has witnessed periods of political tension, clashes, and instability. There have been instances of conflict between ruling and opposition parties, and even among alliance partners. In that context, bringing representatives of all parties onto one platform to discuss responsibility and accountability undoubtedly conveyed a positive message.

Senior opposition leader, former Pradesh Congress President, and Banamalipur MLA Gopal Chandra Roy also praised the workshop. However, he expressed concern over the reduction in Assembly sitting days and the limited opportunities for the opposition to raise public-interest issues. He stated that constructive criticism should be accepted positively, as the opposition speaks not for personal interest but in the interest of the public.

Another significant aspect of the programme was the participation of representatives from Congress, CPI(M), BJP, Tipra Motha, and IPFT in a joint luncheon. Despite political differences, this display of cordiality was seen by many as rare and hopeful.

Following the event, the Chief Minister and several other public representatives shared messages on social media praising the workshop. Citizens also responded. Some supported the initiative, stating that building a “New Tripura” requires collective effort from all parties. Others expressed concerns about unemployment, corruption, the spread of drug abuse, and the future of the youth.

Overall, this one-day seminar and workshop was not merely a formal event; rather, it was a platform for introspection, reaffirmation of responsibility, and a significant step toward making democracy more people-centric.

Participants expressed hope that such initiatives would continue in the future to build a transparent, accountable, and inclusive democratic system. Although there may remain doubts and differing opinions about how sincerely representatives of various political ideologies will act in practice, it is undeniable that this first-of-its-kind workshop in Tripura stands as a significant milestone in the state’s democratic journey.