By Firstdespatch Desk Sep 12, 2022
Agartala, Sep 12 (FD) Former Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb Monday filed his nomination for the lone Rajya Sabha seat as BJP candidate, by-elections for which to be held on September 22.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, State BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Union Minister of State for Social justice and MP from West Tripura loksabha constituency, Ms. Pratima Bhoumik, MP of East Tripura constituency, Rebati Tripura were present during submission of his nomination.
Dr Saha who was the Rajya Sabha member had to resign from the post as he became Chief Minister of the state following resignation Deb from the post following instructions from the central leadership.
Today was the last date of filing nominations which would be scrutinized on September 13 (Tuesday) while last day for withdrawal of the nomination is September 15.
Hours after former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb was appointed as BJP in-charge for Haryana, he was named as the candidate for the lone Rajyasabha seat in the state on last Friday night.
Biplab Deb, who led the BJP to victory, decimating 25 years of Left rule till February, 2018, had earlier served for the party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Delhi.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s top leadership have made me BJP in-charge for Haryana and nominated me for the bypoll to Rajya Sabha seat from Tripura. I will try my best to strengthen the party’s organisation in both the states,” he told reporters after submitting nomination papers.
He urged BJP leaders and workers to put up a united fight for the 2023 assembly elections in the northeastern state.
“In the 2018 polls, the BJP won 36 seats of the 60-member assembly, and we must ensure that the party’s strength in the House increases next year,” he said.
The BJP leader also lauded the state government led by Manik Saha for its performance to “fulfil the people’s aspirations”.
Deb is contesting for the RS seat.
While the main opposition in the state, CPI-M’s nominee, Bhanu Lal Saha, former state Finance and Information Minister had filed his nomination on September 9 last.
The election will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on September 22 and counting will be done on the same day at 5 pm.
The entire process will end on September 26.
The ECI took special note of the Covid related cautions and asked the Chief Secretary to depute a senior officer ensure all Covid protocols and arrangements are put in place while making arrangements for conducting the polls.
The ruling BJP has total strength of 36 MLAs along with its ally -- Indigenous People's Front of Tripura which has 8 MLAs – which is combined strength of 44 MLAs in the 60 member house while the opposition CPI-M has 15 MLAs.
The lone Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, according to the party sources, likely to support the CPI-M led Left Front nominee in the RS polls. FD JK