Biplab Kumar Deb: The man who turned around BJP's fortune in Tripura

The BJP has projected Biplab Kumar Deb as its chief ministerial face in Tripura, where it ended the Left's 25-year rule and won 35 of 60 assembly seats in the recently-concluded election. Deb will be Tripura's 10th chief minister, succeeding Manik Sarkar.

Deb is the president of the BJP's Tripura unit and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 48-year-old completed his graduation from Tripura University in 1999 and moved to Delhi to join the RSS as volunteer. He also reportedly spent time at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. He returned to Tripura in 2016 to take charge of the BJP in the state.

Deb replaced Sudhindra Dasgupta as the BJP's Tripura unit chief - a decision which received thumbs up from PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah. He and is considered instrumental in turning around the BJP's fortunes in the Left citadel. With a door-to-door campaign and "Chollo Paltai" (let's make a change) slogan, Deb ensured the party's turnaround; he himself defeated CPI-M's Amal Chakraborty in the Banamalipur constituency by a margin of 9,549 votes.

Deb was born in Tripura's Udaipur on November 25, 1971. He is fond of gardening and listening to music.

Deb was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Tripura on Tuesday. name was proposed by party MLA Sudip Roy Burman in the meeting,, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said.

Elections were held for 59 seats of the 60-member assembly on February 18.