KAMALPUR, DHALAI: Russell Sinha’s political journey stands out in Tripura’s political landscape for one reason: his decision to move away from a family legacy closely associated with the Communist movement and build his career within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Born on October 6, 1991, in Kamalpur, Sinha belongs to a family that has been involved in Tripura’s public and political life for decades. His great-grandfather, late Gana Singha, was a member of the state’s first 30-member Territorial Council, formed in 1957.
His uncle, late Bimal Singha, served as Tripura’s Health and Family Welfare and Urban Development Minister before he was assassinated in 1998. Russell’s father, late Govinda Das Singha, popularly known as Biman Singha, was Bimal Singha’s elder brother and worked as a school teacher.
The family’s political association, however, did not determine Russell’s own political choice. On November 22, 2016, he joined the BJP as a karyakarta, marking a departure from the Communist political tradition within his family.
Russell has attributed his decision partly to his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the Centre’s decision to implement demonetisation.
The political shift was particularly notable because his aunt, Bijoy Laxmi Sinha, wife of late Bimal Singha, was a sitting MLA from the Communist Party at the time.
His transition into active BJP politics was not without difficulties. Russell has spoken about receiving death threats after becoming involved in BJP activities. The assassinations of his uncles also remained a significant influence on his political outlook, particularly his opposition to political violence and vendetta.
Building a Political Identity
Russell’s early BJP career began under the guidance of then BJYM State President Tinku Roy, along with late Advocate Arun Kanti Bhowmik and Dr Ashok Sinha.
In 2017, he moved from Kamalpur to Agartala and began working as a full-time party worker. His organisational responsibilities soon expanded, including his role as Co-Coordinator of the BJP Media Cell under then Media In-charge Victor Shome.
He later worked on social media and content-related activities for then State BJP President Biplab Kumar Deb, remaining associated with him until November 2018.
Using Digital Platforms for Public Outreach
Social media became another important part of Russell’s early political work. In September 2017, he took up the case of Gopal Das, a Belonia resident who was stranded in Saudi Arabia and wanted to return to India.
Russell raised the matter through social media and approached then Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Twitter, seeking government assistance.
The episode highlighted his growing use of digital platforms to raise individual grievances and seek official intervention.
From a politically prominent family with Communist roots, Russell Sinha has consequently carved out a separate political identity within the BJP. His journey has combined family history, a contrasting ideological choice, organisational work and digital outreach.
