By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 16, 2023
Agartala, Aug 16 (FD) The ruling BJP has announced the names of candidates for the twin by-elections to Dhanpur and Boxanagar assembly constituencies in Sepahijala district to be held on September 5 next.
Bindu Debnath, the president of the Dhanpur ‘Mandal’ of the party was declared as candidate for Dhanpur assembly constituency, which is the home turf of the union minister for state for social justice and empowerment Pratima Bhowmik.
The seat fell vacant as Bhowmik had to resign before being sworn in as MLA in the February 16 elections as the BJP central leadership had wished her to continue as the Union Minister.
The party nominated Taffajal Hussain for the Boxanagar assembly seat, a local leader who contested the last assembly elections against CPI (M) MLA Samsul Haque. The by-election was necessitated in the constituency due to the demise of Haque.
The CPI (M)-led Left Front has fielded Kaushik Chanda and Mijan Husain as its candidates for Dhanpur and Boxanagar assembly constituencies respectively.
BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said, “We are going to win both the seats in the by-elections because we have taken complete preparation. The opposition CPI (M) will not be able to put up even a strong fight”.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has decided not to contest the upcoming by-elections apparently to show solidarity with CPI-M.
“The CPI (M) declared their candidates unilaterally, even as all the opposition parties wanted consensus candidates, but without any consultation with us they fielded candidates unilaterally.
When we are members of the I.N.D.I.A. grouping and in compliance with the directives of our central leadership we have decided not to put up any candidate for the by-elections”, said Asish Saha, president of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee.
He alleged that the ‘BJP sheltered goons had resorted to unleash terror in the area by threatening the opposition party activists and leaders and attacking party offices”.
Saha said the opposition CPI-M candidate will win both the seats provided elections are held in free and fair manner.
Filing the nomination papers will be concluded on August 17, while scrutiny will be held the next day and the counting of votes is on September 8. FD JK