Agartala: The Tripura Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated political exchange on the opening day of its Monsoon Session, as opposition members clashed with the treasury benches over rising electricity bills, smart meter installation, and allegations of creeping privatisation in the power sector. Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, initiating a Short Duration Discussion on the issue, said there was tremendous anger among consumers over rising electricity charges, questioning the billing methodology, particularly the increase in the fixed charge.
Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath strongly contested the Opposition’s arguments, placing the electricity pricing issue in the context of long-term power purchase arrangements and procurement costs, and argued that the government could not disregard contractual obligations while determining supply costs.
Opposition leaders have separately alleged that the government’s smart meter rollout, involving private agencies, signals a move toward privatisation of the power sector — a charge the ruling BJP has rejected, calling it a misinformation campaign. The exchange added to the tense atmosphere already gripping the ongoing session, called by Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, which runs from August 27 to 31 at the New Capital Complex in Agartala.