In order to launch the high-voltage campaigns in favour of BJP candidates, the  ruling BJP will file nomination papers for the by-polls of 20-Boxanagar and 23-Dhanpur assembly constituencies on August  17th  in presence of entire cabinet, central party leaders, all MPs and MLAs along with thousands party workers.

After meeting of the state unit of ‘Election Committee’ of BJP in presence of party’s Northeast Coordinator Sambit Patra, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, former deputy CM Jishnu Dev Varma, state unit president Rajib Bhattacharjee, two MPs Pratima Bhowmik, Rebati Tripura, two ministers Ratan Lal Nath and Tinku Roy, two general secretaries and other members, Rajib Bhattacharjee said that the party leaders has almost finalized two candidate names and send it to the Central Parliamentary committee for their approval.

He said that after approval from the Parliamentary Committee, the party will announce the candidate names.

While speaking with media persons after the meeting Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath the BJP will win both the seats with maximum margins. He however did not make clear who the candidates will be for Boxanagar and Dhanpur constituencies.

Nath over the announcement of CPI (M) candidates said that the CPI(M) is currently in third position in the state and will fall to fourth after the 2024 Parliamentary elections.

Nath expressed his confidence over winning the upcoming assembly bye-election comfortably with good margins. “CPI (M) is in the third position in Tripura now. After the Parliament elections, it will go to the fourth position. You can tally it later”, said Nath. Though candidate details can’t be revealed yet, they may be announced on August 16 before nomination filing, Nath said.

Meanwhile, opposition TIPRA Motha, CPI (M), and Congress recently started discussions for a united fight against BJP. However, CPI (M) unilaterally declared its candidates for the by polls, drawing Congress’ ire as they weren’t consulted.

Reacting to the Left Front’s move, Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha said, “One day after the discussion, the Left Front announced their candidates suddenly yesterday. We feel this was done in a sudden hurry. If the decision was taken unanimously after finalizing with all opposition parties who were in the discussion on the previous day, it would have been better. We have informed our party high command about the situation and AICC leaders will give necessary instructions to the Pradesh unit, said Saha.

However, he also said that Congress would work to sustain and strengthen the opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance which he claimed is getting strong across the country.

Sources said that the main opposition Tipra-Motha leaders will clear their stand over participation in by-polls on August 16 next during a press briefing.

It may be recalled here that By-elections for two assembly constituencies of Tripura including 20-Boxanagar and 23-Dhanpur in Sepahijala district will be held on September 5th next and counting of polled votes will be conducted on September 8th.

The Dhanpur seat fell vacant after the resignation of Union Minister of state, Smt Pratima Bhowmik and the Boxanagar seat remained vacant after the death of CPI (M)'s Boxanagar MLA Samsul Haque in July this year.

In the assembly elections, Smt Pramita Bhowmik secured a total of 19,148 votes and defeated her rival candidate Kaushik Chanda of CPI (M) 3,500 votes. CPI (M) candidate got 15,648 votes, while, Tipra-Motha candidate Amiya Dayal Noatia got 8,671 votes, which has played a crucial role to lose the strong bastion of CPI (M), which was represented by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

The by-elections have been necessitated after senior CPI (M) leader and sitting MLA from Boxanagar assembly constituency, Samsul Haque breathed his last after he suffered a cardiac arrest in the wee hours July 19, 2023 last.  In the 2023 assembly elections, Haque secured a total of 19,404 votes and defeated his nearest rival BJP candidate Taffajal Hossan by 4,849 votes. Taffajal Hossan secured 14,555 votes.