AGARTALA, June 27 (TIWN): Getting no lesson learned from the Smriti Irani case, the ruling CPI-M here in the Left ruled Tripura manages to keep a fake degree holder member of legislative assembly. Interestingly, when the CPI-M at Delhi has been demanding for the resignation of the HRD Minister Smriti Irani over the fake degree row with the Delhi court prepares to hear the case, the only ruling CPI-M here in the Left ruled state Tripura says, “There is no use of making the water dirty now over MLA Keshab Debbarma’s fake degree row.” However, on Friday opposition MLA Sudip Roy Barman talking to TIWN said, “Today we have written a complaint with the State Election Commission with the two affidavits attached with it.” Talking to TIWN in this regard Election Commissioner S. K. Rakesh said, “We have not received any complaint against Keshab Debbarma as of now.” However, Sudip Barman said to TIWN “Earlier we have written a complaint with the ECI in this regard on May 29 and we have also demanded to disqualify Keshab from his membership in Tripura Legislative Assembly”However, this has brought the story more interesting as the CPI-M here in Tripura has been eyeing forward to witness the development of the fake degree row case against MLA Keshab Debbarma whereas the CPI-M at Delhi has been demanding for an action against HRD Minister Smriti Irani for her fake degree case.

Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman has written to the ECI complaining that Golaghati constituency MLA Keshab Debbarma has furnished differing educational qualifications in two state-wide election affidavits. The affidavits mentioned that during the year 2008 CPI-M MLA Keshab Debbarma had appeared for Madhyamik Examinations under the TBSE in 1992 whereas in the year 2013 Debbarma again mentioned in the affidavit that he had passed the Madhyamik examination during the year 1989 under the state board.

”Besides, talking to TIWN on Friday CPI-M State Secretary Bijan Dhar said, “See ! There is no use of making the water dirty now, let the time come, then the party would think on it.” Dhar said, “Let the election commission receive the complaint first and then as per the direction from the EC or ECI the party would move with the case.

CPI-M MLA Keshab Debbarma with his unearthed fake degree in respect of education had managed to won the Golaghat constituency in both the 2008 and 2013 elections by raking in more than half of the total votes each time whereas on the other the CPI-M at Delhi has been demanding for an action against HRD Minister Smriti Irani for similar case like Debbarma here.

Talking to TIWN later, Congress Spokes Person Dr. Ashok Sinha said, “Despite complaining the ECI several times in this regard the ECI had not bothered even to reply to us, and it is nothing new because earlier also we have filed several complaints related to some election issues but no necessary steps has been taken by the election commission.”

Citing an example to this Sinha said to TIWN, “Earlier in Assam some Congress MLAs were brought under the scanner for their fake degrees and they were all put into jail, but when it comes to our turn to lodge a complaint against the CPI-M MLA the ECI does not even bother to reply.”  

However, according to the political analysis the role of the ruling CPI-M here in Tripura towards the Keshab Debbarma’s fake degree row which has brought a jolt in the entire political attire of the CPI-M.

On Friday the opposition MLA Sudip Roy Barman along with other congress leaders knocked the door of state election commission S. K. Rakesh and had lodged a complaint against CPI-M MLA Keshab Debbarma over her fake degree in respect to education. Congress hoped that the election commission would take necessary step towards the case and would disqualify Debbarma from his membership from the state legislative assembly.