Agartala: Feb 15: The Congress party has appointed its lone Member of Parliament (MP) from Odisha, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, as the new in-charge for Tripura, along with three other Northeastern states—Manipur, Sikkim, and Nagaland. Ulaka, who represents Koraput in the Lok Sabha, replaces Christopher Tilak, who held the position for less than six months. Tilak’s brief tenure ended amidst the Congress’ ongoing struggle to strengthen its position in these states, particularly in Tripura, where the party faces challenges with leadership and internal factionalism.
Ulaka’s appointment comes at a critical juncture when Congress in Tripura is at odds with its former ally, the CPI(M). Tensions between the two parties escalated after Congress abstained from voting during the September 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, which led to the victory of BJP’s Rajib Bhattacharjee. The CPI(M) and Congress traded accusations over the outcome, highlighting the growing rift within the opposition in the state.
Ulaka, who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, is currently the only Congress representative from Odisha. His appointment signals an attempt by the party to revitalize its presence in the Northeast. The move is part of a broader organizational overhaul within Congress, which also saw several key appointments, including Bhupesh Baghel as the general secretary in charge of Punjab and Syed Naseer Hussain for Jammu and Kashmir.
Other significant changes included the appointment of Rajani Patil as in-charge for Himachal Pradesh and senior leaders like Harish Chaudhary handling Madhya Pradesh. The reshuffle reflects Congress’ efforts to address leadership gaps and strengthen its strategy in key regions, including the crucial election-bound states.
