Accompanied by Chief Ministers of Haryana and Tripura, former state Chief Minister and BJP candidate Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha through massive rallies filed their nomination papers on Wednesday, last date of submitting candidatures, for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat.

Deb, sitting BJP Rajya Sabha member from Tripura, filed his nomination papers as BJP nominee to West Tripura District’s District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former Chief Minister  Manohar Lal Khattar, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, state party President Rajib Bhattacharjee, Tipra Motha supremo and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma also accompanied Deb, who is a BJP in-charge of Haryana.

Wishing good luck to Deb, Haryana Chief Minister expressed his confidence that both BJP candidates in Tripura would win.

Chief Minister Dr Saha while addressing the gathering said that though a target was announced to secure 370 seats, the BJP might cross 400 seats alone in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

“Today is a happy day. Along with BJP flags, flags of Tipra-Motha and IPFT are flying together. Truly, it's a significant scene. It is obvious that witnessing this scene, many have started trembling from inside as it signifies the 100 per cent win of the BJP candidate and it is due to our PM,” Dr Saha said.

On the other hand, opposition INDIA bloc supported Congress candidate Ashish Kumar Saha also submitted his nomination paper accompanied by the leaders of the coalition including CPI-M Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, senior Left leader Pabitra Kar and National Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. 

Ashish Kumar Saha claimed that former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student union leader Kanhaiya, who was scheduled to join campaigning for INDIA alliance candidates in Tripura, was rejected permission by the local authority to join the rally.

Shrinate termed BJP as "anti-national" and said, "We are INDIA alliance. Call it India or anything else, the name doesn't matter, it is our motherland. Respecting your mother is very important. Those who can't respect mothers are anti-national and people will punish them".

She also said the Congress has found a "strong alliance" among INDIA partners and said that people would reject the ruling BJP and the party would not be able to cross 200 seats, let alone 400 as the saffron party is often heard raising slogans of "Abki Baar, 400 Paar".

Since Wednesday morning, Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan areas turned into epicenter of colours and waving flags as both BJP its allies and Congress led INDIA alliance took out colourful processions with thousands of supporters ahead of filing nominations.

The two Lok Sabha seats of Tripura - Tripura West and Tripura East Parliamentary constituencies would go to elections on March 19 and 26 respectively.