Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday said he has submitted his resignation to Governor S.N. Arya.

Deb made the announcement after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan here.

Senior BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said the legislators would meet shortly to pick the next chief minister.

"Party is above all. I am a loyal worker of the BJP. I hope I have done justice to the responsibilities that were given to me -- whether it was as BJP state president or Tripura Chief Minister. I have worked for the overall development of Tripura, and to ensure peace for the people of the state," Deb told presspersons.

"The 2023 election is coming, and the party wants a responsible organiser to take charge of affairs here. A government can only be formed if the organisation is strong. After the elections, someone will obviously become the Chief Minister," he added.

Deb met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda in the Capital on Thursday to discuss party affairs in the North-Eastern state.

"The party wants me to work to strengthen the organisation," said the outgoing chief minister.

"The people want a long-term BJP government here. If a person like me works for the organisation, obviously it will help the cause," he said.

Deb was appointed Chief Minister after the BJP stormed to power in 2018, ending 25 years of Left Front rule.

There have been rumours of infighting within the BJP's state unit.

Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, who is related to the erstwhile Tripura royal family, is expected to take charge in the interim, sources said.

The state is slated to go to assembly elections next year.

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