Tripura Legislative Assembly Speaker and four-time MLA Biswa Bandhu Sen passed away on Friday after undergoing treatment for more than four months at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 72. A senior leader who began his political career with the Congress before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sen is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.
The Tripura government has declared three days of state mourning from December 26 to 28 as a mark of respect to the departed leader. During this period, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast across the state and no official entertainment programmes will be organised. The state government also ordered the closure of all government offices, including those outside the state, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and educational institutions on Friday. A state funeral will be accorded to Sen on Saturday, December 27.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Health Minister and BJP President J. P. Nadda, BJP National Working President Nitin Nabin, and several other national leaders expressed deep grief over Sen’s demise. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said Sen would be remembered for his efforts toward Tripura’s progress and his commitment to social causes.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, senior minister Ratan Lal Nath, Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul, Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman, and many others also condoled his death. The Chief Minister described Sen’s demise as an irreparable loss for the people of the state, praising his fairness and efficiency in conducting Assembly proceedings.
Sen suffered an internal brain haemorrhage on August 8 at Agartala railway station and was initially treated in Agartala before being shifted to Bengaluru on August 11 for advanced care. He was elected to the Tripura Assembly four times from Dharmanagar — in 2008 and 2013 as a Congress candidate, and in 2018 and 2023 on a BJP ticket — leaving behind a lasting legacy in the state’s political life.
