In BJP’s Tripura win, a doctor’s charm

Manik Saha was in the news this year for another reason. He operated on a 10-year old for an oral cystic lesion

He was asked to take up the top post in Tripura just nine months before the elections. Chief Minister Manik Saha, a dental surgeon, teacher and politician managed to pull it off and the BJP is back in power in Tripura.

Saha had switched from the Congress to the BJP in 2016 and in four years, he was heading the state's unit. Last year, he was nominated states only Rajya Sabha seat. In just 15 days of him taking oath, he was made the chief minister of the state. Biplab Deb stepped down as the CM amidst some turbulence within the party last May.

The task ahead for Saha was a huge one. The government was facing criticism for unemployment, corruption, allegations of political vendetta and unpkept poll promises.

Saha managed to whither the storm and took quick action and brought about a calm. He went on to put the BJP in a commanding position which gave the party the confidence to face the elections. The party leadership became stronger, there was transparency in governance and greater coordination among cabinet members. Another important factor that the friction within the party came down drastically after Saha's ascent to the post of CM.

Saha had not fought an electoral battle until 2022 until Asish Kumar, the BJP MLA from Town Bordowali, resigned and joined the Congress.

The trust in Saha was such that the central leadership backed him heavily. In the run up to the elections, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Manik Saha would be the leader of the party. In one poll rally, Amit Shah made it clear that the people should trust, 'Manik bhai's leadership,' to ensure that the BJP's 'double engine government' makes Tripura the most prosperous small state in India.

Before making a foray into politics, Saha taught at the Tripura medical college. This year he was in the news for another reason. He operated on a 10-year old for an oral cystic lesion.

Saha was born on January 8 1953 to Makhan Lal Saha and Priya Bala Saha. He received his BDS and MDS in oral and maxillofacial surgery degrees from the Government, Dental College, Patna, Bihar and King George's Medical College in Lucknow. Saha is married Swapna Saha and has two daughters. He is also the president of the Tripura Cricket Association. Prior to joining politics, he was teaching at the Tripura Medical College located at Hapania.