India, Feb. 27 -- Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday asserted that elected representatives must remain accountable and maintain close contact with the people of their respective constituencies.

He described public acceptability as the biggest virtue a public representative can possess, rather than relying on money and muscle power to win elections.

"It is the acceptability among the public that counts and makes a difference. The office that someone holds is secondary," the Chief Minister said.

Addressing a seminar on "Responsibility and Accountability of Public Representatives to All Sections of the People," organised by the Tripura Legislative Assembly under the aegis of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Saha said r...