Biplab Kumar Deb will be sworn in as the chief minister of Tripura on Friday, officially ushering the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the Left bastion.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states have been invited.


"The swearing-in ceremony will be on March 9 at 10.30 am. We have sent an invitation to the Prime Minister and all the chief ministers of the BJP government. I hope Prime Minister accepts the invitation," said Deb, while addressing the media on Thursday.


Former chief minister Manik Sarkar was personally invited by Deb and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav.


Madhav praised Sarkar and said he has qualities that other leaders should emulate. BJP's CM-elect Biplab Kumar Deb too was present in the meeting.


Madhav tweeted, "Called on former CM of Tripura Sh Manik Sarkar at d CPM office and invited him to d oath ceremony of d new govt tomorrow. True to his character he has shifted to d party office immediately after resigning as CM post the election. Something for leaders to emulate."


Hindustan Times reports that the Tripura unit of the CPI(M) said it has decided to boycott Friday's swearing-in ceremony of the state's first BJP government to protest the post-poll violence, though Sarkar might attend the event.


Yesterday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari announced Deb as the chief minister while Jishnu Kumar Deb was named as deputy chief minister.


The announcement was made at the state guesthouse in Agartala.Earlier in the month, the BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) scripted history in the assembly election by ending the 25-year reign of the Left Front-led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with a two-thirds majority in the Tripura legislative assembly elections.


The BJP won 35 of the 59 seats that went to polls in Tripura, ousting the CPI(M) which won only in 17 assembly constituencies. -- ANI


Image: Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar with BJP's Ram Madhav and Tripura CM-elect Biplab Kumar Deb