Agartala, July 07, 2025: Tripura Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has hit back at Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury for criticizing the state government’s decision to rename Agartala Town Hall in memory of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
Speaking to media personnel here in Agartala city on Monday, the minister accused the opposition CPI(M) of deliberately misleading the public and playing politics over a symbolic move.
“The name of the building will remain Town Hall. Only Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s name will be added to it. But the Leader of the Opposition is trying to create confusion. Frankly, the CPI(M) would have preferred to name it after Karl Marx rather than an Indian nationalist like Dr. Mukherjee,” Chowdhury clarified.
The minister said Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha had made the announcement respecting the legacy of Dr. Mukherjee, and that the decision aligns with a nationwide trend of naming institutions after eminent personalities.
“In many states, town halls have been dedicated to illustrious figures. This is not something new. Then why is Jitendra Chaudhury objecting?” he questioned. “The renaming of Agartala Town Hall is being done with public support,” he added.
Recalling the building’s history, Chowdhury said, “Earlier, the Town Hall stood where the Rajbari’s Lalbari once existed. It was inaugurated as a town hall in 1985 by then Vice President R. Venkataraman. If it truly mattered to the Left, why wasn’t it named after a royal figure during their long tenure?”
He accused the CPIM of double standards. “During their rule, stadiums and hospitals were named after Left leaders like Dasarath Deb and Bimal Sinha. But now they object to honoring Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who sacrificed his life for the nation’s unity,” he said.
Highlighting Dr. Mukherjee’s contributions, the minister said, “He was a towering nationalist leader, founder of Jana Sangh, and one of the youngest Vice-Chancellors of Calcutta University. His martyrdom while opposing Article 370 and 35A still resonates with every Indian.”
Chowdhury alleged that the opposition was opposing the move purely for political reasons. “Jitendra Chaudhury is trying to mislead people with distorted facts. His remarks reflect political insecurity. I urge citizens not to fall prey to such narratives.”
“The state BJP condemns such divisive comments. We thank the Chief Minister for honoring Dr. Mukherjee’s legacy with this decision,” Chowdhury added.
