By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 17, 2023
Agartala, Aug 17 (FD) The ruling BJP and opposition political parties in the state are now warming up as a clear battle line was drawn for the September 5 by-elections to two assembly constituencies in Tripura.
The TIPRA Motha, the main opposition in the state has decided not to field any candidate against opposition CPI-M, which fielded their candidates in both the constituencies.
The opposition Congress had earlier announced that it would not contest the by-election to the Dhanpur and Boxanagar Assembly constituencies to show solidarity with CPI-M.
Leader of Opposition in Tripura Assembly and prominent member of TIPRA Motha, Animesh Debbarma said his party will not field any candidate to check division of opposition votes against ruling BJP.
“If we put up candidates the ruling BJP will get the advantages, we do not want to divide opposition votes. Besides, lot of resources like money and man power is also required for contesting an election”, he told reporters here.
President of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, Asish Saha said, “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”.
The BJP has fielded Bindu Debnath, the president of the Dhanpur ‘Mandal’ of the party as candidate for Dhanpur assembly constituency, which was the home turf of the union minister for state for social justice and empowerment Pratima Bhowmik.
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.
Filing of the nomination has ended today and scrutiny will be held tomorrow. Counting will be on September 8. FD JK