Tag: Tripura

PM Modi to attend swearing-in of new govts in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura

[ad_1]
Agartala/Kohima/Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Chief Ministers and their ministers in Meghalaya and Nagaland on Tuesday and that of Tripura on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and a few Union ministers are likely to attend these events in three state capitals.
Official and BJP sources said that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Meghalaya Chief Minister and his council of ministers would be held in Shillong at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, while the swearing-in in Nagaland will take place in Kohima at 1.45 p.m.
The new Chief Minister and ministers of Tripura would be administered the oath by the Governor in Agartala on Wednesday.
Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader and caretaker Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), would meet the Central BJP leaders in New Delhi on Sunday, ahead of the formation of new Nagaland government.
The ruling NDPP (25 seats), along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (12 seats) retained power in Nagaland for a second straight term by winning 37 seats together in the 60-member Assembly.
Rio, who on Friday was unanimously elected as the leader of the NDPP legislative party, submitted his resignation letter to Governor La Ganesan on Saturday.
In Meghalaya, National People’s Party (NPP) Chief Conrad K Sangma has reiterated that he has letters of support from 32 MLAs and claimed to have received an invitation from the Governor to form the next government. Sangma said that he has support of 32 MLAs, which is one more than the required number to form the government.

The NPP in the February 27 assembly polls secured 26 seats while the BJP, which got two seats, extended its support to the NPP led government. Sangma, Chief Minister since 2018, submitted to the Governor a letter of support with signatures of 32 MLAs — 26 NPP, two BJP, two legislators from Hill State People’s Democratic Party and two independents.
In Tripura, sources said that outgoing Chief Minister Manik Saha would hold the Chief Minister’s post once again.
A meeting of newly elected MLAs and leaders was held in Agartala on Sunday. BJP’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, Manik Saha, BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee, and Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik among others were present in the meeting.
In the February 16 Assembly polls, the BJP won 32 seats, one more than the magic figure of 31 in the 60-member Assembly while its ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura got one.
The tribal-based Tipra Motha Party, which contested 42 seats on its debut, emerged as the second-largest party securing 13 seats. The CPI-M won 11 seats while the Congress bagged three.
In the 2018 polls, the BJP had won 36 seats, and ally IPFT eight seats while the CPI-M had secured 16.
[ad_2]
#Modi #attend #swearingin #govts #Meghalaya #Nagaland #Tripura
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 5, 2023
BJP all set to get 2nd consecutive term in Tripura

[ad_1]
Agartala: The BJP surged ahead of the Opposition CPI-M-Congress, winning 28 (of total 60 seats) and leading in four seats as the counting of votes in Tripura was underway on Thursday, almost ensuring itself a second consecutive term.
The counting of votes was underway at 21 locations across the state under tight security measures. The election was held on February 16.
According to the latest trends and announcements of results, the tribal-based Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which for the first time contested the Assembly election in 42 seats, won 12 seats and had secured a lead in one seat.
The CPI-M won six seats and was leading in five seats, while the Congress won two seats and was ahead in one seat.
The candidate of BJP ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won the Jolaibari seat in southern Tripura.
All the top BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Manik Saha and Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma were re-elected from Town Bordowali and Charilam seats, respectively.
BJP candidate and Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik elected to the state assembly for the first time from Dhanpur seat while state ministers Rampada Jamatia (Bagma seat), Sushanta Chowdhury (Majlishpur), Ratan Lal Nath (Mohanpur), Ram Prasad Paul (Surjyamaninagar), state assembly speaker Ratan Chakraborty (Khayerpur), Surajit Datta (Ramnagar) were re-elected to the state assembly.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidates either won or were leading in 11 seats, including Pratapgarh, Khowai, Kadamtala-Kurt, Sabroom, Sonamura, Bamutia, Hrishamukh, Jubarajnagar, Belonia, Boxanaga and Barjala.

Among the important CPI-M candidates leading are state party Secretary Jitendra Chowdhury (Sabroom seat), Sudip Sarkar (Barjala), Dipankar Sen (Belonia), Shyamal Chakraborty (Sonamura).Congress, which contested the February 16 Assembly elections in seat sharing adjustments with the Left parties, won the Agartala and Kailashahar seats and leading in Banamalipur seat.
The Congress candidates leading in the counting of votes include Sudip Roy Barman in Agartala seat, Gopal Chandra Roy in Banamalipur seat and state Congress President Birajit Sinha in Kailashahar seat.
Among the important TMP candidates who won their seats include Chitta Ranjan Debbarma (Ambassa seat), Pathan Lal Jamatia (Ampinagar), Animesh Debbarma (Asharambari) and Paul Dangshu (Karamchara).
In the February 16 elections to the 60-seat Tripura Assembly, 89.95 per cent of the 28.14 lakh voters exercised their franchise and will decide the fate of 259 candidates, including 31 women.
[ad_2]
#BJP #set #2nd #consecutive #term #Tripura
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 2, 2023
Votes set to be counted in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Votes are set to be counted and results will be out on Thursday for Assembly polls in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland with the keenly-fought battle in the three northeastern states marking the first round of polls in an electorally-crucial year.
Meghalaya and Nagaland went for assembly polls on February 27 and voting was held in Tripura on February 16. The three states witnessed high voter turnout. The BJP, which has replaced Congress as the dominant party in the northeast, is optimistic of its prospects in the three states.
Apart from the three states, results will also be declared in the bypolls for Erode (East) seat in Tamil Nadu, Sagardighi in West Bengal, Ramgarh in Jharkhand where polling was held on February 27. Polling for Kasba Peth and Chinchwad in Maharashtra was held on February 26. Apart from the assembly polls, the bypolls have also evoked wide interest due to battle for supremacy between two factions of Shiv Sena.
Though the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction is not the contesting the bypolls, it has thrown its weight behind the Maha Vikas Agadhi candidates. The bypolls are the first since the Election Commission recognised the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena and allotted it party name and symbol. The bypoll to the Erode East assembly seat in Tamil Nadu is also significant for both the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK.The exit polls have predicted a clear victory of NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland, a clear edge to BJP in Tripura and a hung verdict in Meghalaya.
While Tripura saw 87.76 per cent polling, it was 85.90 per cent in Nagaland and 85.27 per cent in Meghalaya. Meghayala Chief Minister and National People’s Party leader Conrad Sangma met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday night. The parties were partners in the ruling coalition but fought the assembly polls separately.
BJP leader Rituraj Sinha expressed confidence of party’s performance in the three northeastern states. “People in North-East saw good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our government will be elected in these states. Our vote share will increase,” Sinha said on Tuesday. The BJP had created a record in Tripura in 2018 election, ousting Left parties from their bastion and hopes to continue its winning run. Left parties and Congress joined hands in this election to give a tough fight to BJP.
Tipra Motha, a regional party led by Pradyot Debbarma, a member of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, is also expected to make its presence felt.The BJP has allied with IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura), its partner in the previous assembly polls. The BJP contested 55 seats of 60-member assembly in Tripura in Februart 27 election. The Left Front fielded candidates in 47 seats and Congress on 13. Tipra Motha fought 42 seats and Trinamool Congress put up candidates on 28 seats.
Chief Minister Manik Saha contested from Town Bardowali constituency and Union minister Pratima Bhowmik fought the polls as BJP candidate from Dhanpur.BJP leaders in their speeches talked about the development picking up pace in the border state and efforts of the “double-engine” government over the past five years. Tipra Motha has raised demand of Greater Tipraland. The counting of votes of 60 assembly constituencies in Tripura will be held in 21 counting locations across the state.

Meghalaya went to the polls for 59 of its 60 assembly seats. Polling for the Sohiong Assembly constituency was postponed following the demise of the state’s former Home minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the seat, HDR Lyngdoh.The National People’s Party (NPP) is leading the ruling alliance which also included the BJP. But the two parties have contested the poll separately. Trinamool Congress and regional parties such as the United Democratic Party and People’s Democratic Front have also sought to put up a strong fight and a split verdict could throw open various possibilities in the state.The BJP and Congress contested 59 seats while the NPP has put up nominees in 56 constituencies. Meghalaya holds significance for pan-India ambitions of Trinamool Congress and the party contested 57 seats.
CM Conrad K Sangma contested from South Tura constituency while Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma is in the fray from Songsak and Tikrikilla.In Nagaland, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) contested 40 seats while its ally BJP put up candidates 20 seats in the on the 60-member House.
Akuluto seat was won uncontested by BJP.Congress contested 23 seats in the state. The NDPP-BJP alliance in the state is led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Kuzholuzo Nienu has said that the party is open to post-poll arrangements.
Interestingly, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has fielded 16 candidates.The Election Commission has made adequate arrangements for counting of votes.While elections have been held in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya, six more states will go for the assembly polls later this year before the Lok Sabha battle in 2024.
The outcome of the polls in three northeastern states is likely to have a bearing on the prospects of national parties in state polls later this year. BJP is hopeful of the outcome giving it momentum for the poll battles ahead.
[ad_2]
#Votes #set #counted #Tripura #Meghalaya #Nagaland
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 2, 2023
‘No hung Assembly in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland’, claims Assam CM

[ad_1]
Guwahati Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Tuesday that there won’t be any hung Assembly in Tripura, Nagaland or Meghalaya, contrary to what several exit polls have indicated.
Instead, the NDA will form governments with complete majority in all the three northeastern states, Sarma said while talking to mediapersons here.
The counting of votes for the three states which went to the polls this month will be taken up on Thursday.
No NDA (National Democratic Alliance) partner will form an alliance with either the Congress or the Trinamool Congress after the results are announced on Thursday, said Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
Hung legislatures are expected in Tripura and Meghalaya, according to a number of exit polls, with the NDA emerging as the dominant alliance.
However, most exit polls suggest that the BJP and its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) are likely to win a second term in Nagaland.
When asked about the CM candidates for the three states, Sarma said that Tripura and Nagaland would maintain the status quo, putting an end to rumours that Tripura may undergo yet another change of leadership.
“While we are in a coalition government in Nagaland, Tripura will have a BJP Chief Minister,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister of Meghalaya will be chosen after taking into account the number of seats BJP wins, he added.
The BJP did not form a pre-poll alliance with any of the parties in Meghalaya despite being the part of NPP-led government for the last five years.
In Nagaland and Meghalaya, the governments are currently led by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the National People’s Party (NPP), respectively, while Tripura is at present governed by the BJP.
[ad_2]
#hung #Assembly #Tripura #Meghalaya #Nagaland #claims #Assam
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 28, 2023
Exit Polls: BJP to retain Tripura, Meghalaya sees four-cornered contest

[ad_1]
New Delhi: With voting for the assembly polls in Meghalaya and Nagaland ending on Monday amid tight security, all eyes are now on the results.
In Meghalaya, polling was held at 3,419 polling stations across 59 Assembly constituencies, while in Nagaland voting was held in 59 out of 60 Assembly constituencies.
The Matrize exit poll for Meghalaya predicted 21-26 seats for the NPP, 6-11 seats to the BJP, 8-13 to the TMC, 3-6 for the Congress and 10-19 for others.
In Meghalaya, it continued to be a four-cornered contest. In the last Assembly polls, although the Congress had emerged as the single largest party winning 21 seats, the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party, which had won 20 seats, had managed to form the government following an alliance with the BJP.
However, this time, with no pre-poll alliance in place, the Congress, BJP, NPP and TMC are looking to win a majority on their own.
In Nagaland, in 2018 the NDPP-BJP alliance had formed the government. The Naga People’s Front (NPF), which had emerged as the single largest party in the last Assembly polls, faces a tough time as many of its leaders have since quit to join the NDPP.
The Matrize exit poll predicts the BJP+NDPP will win 35-43 seats, the Congress will get 1-3 seats, the NPF might get 2-5, the NPP 1 and 6-11 for the others in Nagaland.
Tripura voted on February 16, recording nearly 88 per cent polling.

The India Today exit poll has predicted that the BJP will win 36-45 seats in the Tripura Assembly. The BJP-led alliance is likely to retain power, shows the India Today-Axis My India poll.
[ad_2]
#Exit #Polls #BJP #retain #Tripura #Meghalaya #sees #fourcornered #contest
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 27, 2023
21 arrested in 18 incidents of poll violence in Tripura

[ad_1]
Agartala: At least 21 people were arrested in 18 incidents of poll violence in Tripura since Thursday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao said.
The state recorded 89.95 per cent voter turnout in the election held on Thursday, he said.
“18 incidents of violence were reported since February 16, and accordingly FIRs were lodged by the police. A total of 21 persons were arrested while notices were served to over 150 persons for their alleged involvement in the violence,” he told a press conference on Saturday.
Six incidents took place on the day of polling, the CEO said.
Sepahijala district reported most of the incidents at nine, he said.
He claimed that incidents of election-related violence drastically went down this time.
All sub-divisional magistrates in the state held meetings with the representatives of political parties on Saturday, seeking their help to maintain peace and tranquility, he said.
Two BJP candidates — Hemani Debbarma of Golaghati constituency and Pranajit Sinha Roy of Matabari — demanded repolling in some booths.

“However, the observers after checking the webcasting footage of these booths rejected their demands,” he said.
Meanwhile, a clash broke out between supporters of the BJP and Left-Congress in Unakoti district’s Kumarghat on Saturday, leading to the blockade of a highway, provoking a baton charge by the police.
Apart from injury to a few persons, a sub-inspector was hurt, a police officer said, adding that additional forces have been deployed in the area.
[ad_2]
#arrested #incidents #poll #violence #Tripura
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 18, 2023
Final polling percentage in Tripura assembly polls will be 92 % : CEO

[ad_1]
Agartala: The polling percentage in Thursday’s Assembly elections in Tripura would be around 92 percent, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao said.
Voter turnout was 91.82 percent and 89.38 percent in 2013 and 2018 Assembly elections, respectively.
The CEO said that when the voting officially ended at 4 p.m. in the afternoon, nine percent of voters were in the queue in 1,600 polling stations across the state and they were being allowed to cast their votes as of late Thursday evening in a large number of polling stations in different districts.
“Over 81.1 percent of the 28.14 lakh voters exercised their franchise when the polling officially ended at 4 p.m.. Over 2.2 percent people, mostly polling and security personnel, cast their votes through postal ballot before Thursday’s voting,” Dinkarrao told the media.
He said that except for five incidents, the voting across the state was 100 percent peaceful. Six people were arrested in connection with these incidents, he said.
“The Election Commission has initiated zero poll violence missions and that was fully achieved,” the CEO said. He said that it is a matter of satisfaction that in all polling stations, more than one polling agents of candidates were present, webcasting done, and Central Armed Police Force and micro observers were present in all the polling stations.
In all, 259 candidates, including 31 women, are in the fray for the election to the 60-member house. In the 2018 Assembly polls, there were 297 candidates, including 24 women.

[ad_2]
#Final #polling #percentage #Tripura #assembly #polls #CEO
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 16, 2023
20-fold increase in seizures in Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya: EC

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday said that seizures of over Rs 147 crore have been recorded so far in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, marking a 20 times increase as compared to the Assembly Elections in 2018.
“Due to the coordinated efforts of enforcement agencies, extensive monitoring, marking of expenditure sensitive constituencies and adequate deployment of field teams, the three states witnessed seizures of Rs 147.84 crore after the announcement of elections which surpasses the seizures made in the entire duration of enforcement of the model code of conduct in the 2018 Assembly Elections, which was all of Rs 7.24 crore,” the EC said.
“In an operation, 3.53 kg of heroin valued at Rs 10.58 crore was seized by police in Dhalai district of Tripura. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence also seized 2.44 kg of heroin in East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya and 2.27 kg in Chumoukedima district in Nagaland.
“In Tripura, seeing the sensitivity of drugs and illegal ganja cultivation, a special team consisting of district police personnel, forest officials, BSF, anti-narcotics and other agencies was formed in Sepahijhala and West Tripura districts,” the EC said.
Drugs valued at crores of rupees have been destroyed in Tripura.
During its visit to Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland in January, the Election Commission had reviewed the preparations along with the Central and state enforcement agencies.
While announcing the poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stressed increased vigilance and zero tolerance on distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

[ad_2]
#20fold #increase #seizures #Tripura #Nagaland #Meghalaya
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 16, 2023
Tripura polls: Over 70% turnout till 3 p.m. amid several incidents of violence

[ad_1]
Agartala: Over 70 per cent voters cast their votes till 3 p.m. on Thursday in the Tripura Assembly polls amid heavy security, election officials said.
Several incidents of attacks on political workers and intimidation and obstruction of voters were reported.
At least 60 opposition party workers were injured when the ruling party workers attacked them in South, Gomati, Sepahijala and West Tripura districts. The main opposition CPI-M alleged that the BJP workers have evicted their candidates’ polling agents in more than 25 polling stations in four districts.
Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao said that wherever the authority got any information of any trouble, the security forces immediately rushed to the areas and resolved the problems.
A senior police official said that a police constable was suspended in Gomati district for his alleged role in urging people to cast votes in favour of the ruling BJP.
Opposition political parties, including CPI-M and Congress, complained that in several places, including Dhanpur and Kakraban, the ruling party workers obstructed the voters belonging to the opposition parties.
Ahead of voting starting at 7 a.m. across the state’s eight districts, men, women and first-time voters queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting started at 7 a.m. in eight districts.
“EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines), which were not functioning properly, were replaced expeditiously by the engineers,” an election official said.

The CEO said that a total of 259 candidates, including 31 women, in the fray for the election to the 60-member house, and of them, the highest number (55) have been fielded by the ruling BJP, followed by the CPI-M (43), Tipra Motha Party (42), Trinamool Congress (28), and Congress (13). A total of 58 Independent candidates and 14 nominees from various smaller parties are also contesting the elections.
Around 31,000 personnel are stationed in 3,327 polling stations to conduct the voting.
In all, 28.14 lakh voters, including 13.99 lakh women, were eligible to cast their votes in Thursday’s balloting.
A senior police officer said the Union Home Ministry has provided 400 companies (30,000 security personnel) of Central Armed Police Force while around 9,000 Tripura State Rifles jawans and over 6,000 Tripura Police personnel have also been deployed to hold a fair and violence free elections.
[ad_2]
#Tripura #polls #turnout #p.m #incidents #violence
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 16, 2023
Tripura Assembly polls: Voting begins amid tight security

[ad_1]
Agartala: The polling for the Tripura Assembly elections began amid tight security on Thursday.
The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.
According to Election Commission, over 28.14 lakh electorates of which 14,15,233 are male voters, 13,99,289 are woman voters and 62 are of the third gender, are eligible to cast their franchise. The voting is underway at 3,337 polling stations.
Adequate security arrangements have been made for the polls. The state has 97 all-women-managed police stations. It has 94,815 voters in the 18-19 age group and 6,21,505 in the 22-29 age group. The highest number of voters are in the 40-59 age group at 9,81,089.
The fate of the 259 candidates will be sealed on 60 Assembly seats today.
A triangular contest is on the cards as Congress and CPIM, which have been arch rivals for years, stitched a pre-poll alliance to defeat the ruling BJP while the BJP which is looking to retain its power is contesting in alliance with Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha which is being seen as a kingmaker in case of a hung assembly scenario, emerged as an influential regional party floated by the royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma in 2021. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress has also put up candidates on several seats.
The BJP is contesting on 55 seats and its ally, IPFT, on six seats. But both allies have fielded candidates in the Ampinagar constituency in Gomati district.
The Left will contest on 47 and Congress on 13 seats, respectively.Of the total 47 seats, the CPM will contest 43 seats while the Forward Bloc, Communist Party of India ( CPI) and Revolutionary Socialist Party ( RSP) will contest one seat each.

Over 28 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the election for the 60-member assembly in the border state.
Tripura is the first state to go to the polls this year. While polling for Nagaland and Meghalaya assemblies will be held on February 27, five more states face elections this year in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
A total of 259 candidates, including 20 women, are in the fray in Tripura. The counting of votes will be done on March 2.
This time Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 12 women candidates.The BJP which had never won a single seat in Tripura before 2018, stormed to power in the last election in alliance with IPFT and had ousted the Left Front which had been in power in the border state for 35 years since 1978.
BJP won 36 seats in the assembly and got 43.59 per cent of the votes in the 2018 election. The CPI (M) won 16 seats with a 42.22 per cent vote share. The IPFT won eight seats and Congress could not open its account.
The BJP is exuding confidence that it will improve its performance. Party’s top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party chief JP Nadda campaigned in the state.
Apart from national leaders, the star campaigners, Chief Ministers of Assam and Uttar Pradesh, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Yogi Adiyanath respectively also campaigned in Tripura.
On the other hand, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, and senior party leaders Brinda Karat, Prakash Karat, Mohammad Salim and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar campaigned for the party in Tripura.
Congress campaigners included party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Dipa Dasmunshi and Ajoy Kumar. However, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not campaign in the state.
The CPI-M-led Left Front ruled the state for nearly four decades, with a gap between 1988 and 1993, when the Congress was in power but now both the parties joined hand with an intention to oust BJP from power.
Tipra Motha, which has raised demand for Greater Tipraland, could upset the calculations of both BJP and Left-Congress alliance. Tipra Motha, chaired by Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, is contesting at 42 seats.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress may act as a spoiler as it is contesting 28 seats and 58 independent candidates are also trying out their luck.
Chief Minister Manik Saha is contesting the polls from Town Borodowali. Congress has fielded Ashish Kumar Saha against him. Manik Saha replaced Biplab Kumar Deb as chief minister in May last year.
Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma is contesting from Charilam seat.
Tripura BJP state president Rajiv Bhattacharjee is contesting from the Banamalipur constituency. Biplab Deb earlier represented the seat.
CPI(M) state general secretary Jitendra Choudhury is contesting from the Sabroom constituency.
The BJP has fielded Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik from the Dhanpur constituency. Bhoumik is the first woman from Tripura to become a Union minister. Tipra Motha has fielded Amiya Dayal Noatia against Bhoumik in the seat.
BJP has fielded sitting MLA Pranajit Singh Roy from the Radhakishorpur constituency. He is pitted against CPI-ML’s Partha Karmakar.
BJP’s Papiya Dutta will face Congress candidate Sudip Roy Barman in Agartala.
In Karbook, CPI(M) candidate Priyamani Debbarma is contesting against BJP’s Ashim Tripura and Tipra Motha’s Sanjay Manik.
In the run-up to the elections, Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the demand for a “Greater Tipraland” is not possible as Tripa Motha Party is not able to define the boundary.
“Greater Tipraland, we have heard this name before also. In every Assembly election, some or other slogans like Tipraland are created and after every 5 years, new local parties emerge and raise such slogans. I have repeatedly asked where is the boundary, sometimes they say that Greater Tipraland is in Bangladesh, and sometimes they say that there are some parts of Assam and Mizoram too. This means they are in a fix. What exactly they are trying to say and want to say, we are not able to understand anything. When we talk about this matter, they say it is linguistic culturally, they are not able to define or describe properly,” Saha said during an exclusive interview with the ANI, on the demand of Greater Tipraland.
He had also termed the democratic ouster of the Left Front government in Tripura in the last assembly polls by the BJP as “historic” and something “that has barely happened in India’s history”.
“It’s a history that after 35 years of rule, BJP removed the Communist government here in a democratic way…It has barely happened in India’s history,” he said.
“Communists committed murders and violence here, so it is important that they do not return to power as violence cannot lead to development. Numerous people had to sacrifice their lives. All of us are very concerned,” Saha added.
BJP in its manifesto promised welfare proposals such as special canteen meals to the poor three times a day at Rs 5 each, a Balika Samridddhi bond of Rs 50,000 to each underprivileged family on the birth of a girl child and scooters for meritorious college girls.
The manifesto also promises smartphones to 50,000 meritorious students, two free LPG cylinders to all beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, land deeds to those without any holdings, and an annual payout of Rs 3,000 to all landless farmers.
The counting of votes will take place on March 2, coinciding with the date of the Meghalaya and Nagaland Assembly polls results.
[ad_2]
#Tripura #Assembly #polls #Voting #begins #tight #security
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 16, 2023