KAMALPUR, DHALAI: Russell Sinha’s political journey is marked by a sharp departure from his family’s long-standing Communist political legacy. Born into a politically influential family in Kamalpur, Sinha chose to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and gradually emerged as a youth leader and grassroots party worker.
Born on October 6, 1991, Russell is the nephew of late Bimal Singha, Tripura’s former Health and Family Welfare and Urban Development Minister, who was assassinated in 1998. He is the son of late Govinda Das Singha, popularly known as Biman Singha, the elder brother of Bimal Singha and a school teacher.
The family’s political association predates Bimal Singha. Russell’s great-grandfather, late Gana Singha, was a member of Tripura’s first 30-member Territorial Council, formed in 1957.
Despite this political background, Russell decided to take a different route. On November 22, 2016, he joined the BJP as a karyakarta. According to Russell, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the Centre’s decision to introduce demonetisation influenced his decision.
His entry into BJP politics came at a time when his aunt, Bijoy Laxmi Sinha, the wife of late Bimal Singha, was a sitting MLA representing the Communist Party. His decision thus marked a significant political shift within the family.
Russell said his political transition also brought personal challenges, including death threats after he became active in BJP politics. The assassinations of two of his uncles, he said, had a lasting impact on his family and influenced his views on political violence and political vendetta.
Russell began his BJP journey under the leadership of then BJYM State President Tinku Roy, with guidance from late Advocate Arun Kanti Bhowmik and Dr Ashok Sinha.
In 2017, he moved from Kamalpur to Agartala and entered full-time politics. He was given responsibility as Co-Coordinator of the BJP Media Cell, working under then Media In-charge Victor Shome.
He was subsequently entrusted by then State BJP President Biplab Kumar Deb with responsibilities related to social media and content. Russell continued working with him until November 2018.
One of the notable episodes in Russell’s early political career came in September 2017, when he took up the case of Gopal Das, a resident of Belonia who was stranded in Saudi Arabia and seeking assistance to return to India.
Russell highlighted the matter on social media and approached then Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj through Twitter, seeking government intervention.
The episode helped establish his public profile as a political worker using social media to raise citizens’ concerns and seek administrative intervention.
Russell Sinha’s journey from a family with deep Communist roots to an active role in BJP politics reflects a distinct political choice shaped by family history, personal experiences and grassroots organisational work.
