Gives security of pension: Ex-BJP MP returns to teaching after political setbacks

Former BJP MP Rebati Tripura has returned to teaching at a government school in Agartala after his political career stalled, citing a lack of party responsibilities and the security of a pension.

In Short

• Rebati Tripira was MP from East Tripura 2019-2024
• Rejoined a government school in Agartala on July 20
• Faced political setbacks including exclusion from BJP office-bearers list

Former BJP MP Rebati Tripura has returned to teaching after his political career stalled, saying the move gives him both a sense of purpose and the security of a pension. The former parliamentarian, who earlier worked as a school teacher, rejoined a government-run school in Agartala on July 20.

Tripura, who represented the East Tripura Parliamentary constituency after winning the 2019 Lok Sabha election, said he had little to do within the party over the past two-and-a-half years. His return to the classroom comes after a series of political setbacks, including not being fielded in the last general elections and being left out of the BJP's recently announced list of office-bearers.

A native of a remote village in Tripura's Dhalai district, Tripura completed his master's degree in political science and joined Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School in Agartala in 2001. He later entered politics and joined the BJP in 2014. His political career gained momentum when the party fielded him from East Tripura in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which he won.

But in the last general elections, the BJP chose Kriti Devi Debbarman, sister of Tipra Motha Party supremo and Tripura royal family member Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, as its candidate from the seat. Though Rebati Tripura remained a member of the BJP core committee, he was largely absent from party activities in the past couple of years. The latest setback came when his name was missing from the party's new list of office-bearers.

"For the past two-and-a-half years, I literally had no work as a core committee member of the party. I attended only one meeting of the BJP Janajati Morcha during that period. Since I have no specific political assignment right now, I have decided to return to my old profession, a postgraduate teacher of a government-run school," the former MP told PTI on Sunday.

He added, "If I feel comfortable with the students, I will continue with teaching, and if I don't feel like it, I may also take voluntary retirement. At least this job will confirm my post-retirement benefits, including a pension of around Rs 50,000 per month, a good amount."

The school's officiating headmaster, Titu Saha, said Tripura had been carrying out his teaching duties with dedication and sincerity since rejoining. He added that the former MP had built a strong rapport with colleagues and students and had been warmly welcomed by the school community. With that, Rebati Tripura's journey has come back to the classroom, where he says he has found both work and stability again.

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