[ad_1]
Agartala. A total of 259 candidates are in the fray for the upcoming assembly elections in Tripura. An official said that the authorities canceled 19 nomination papers while 32 candidates withdrew their papers. Polling for the 60-member Tripura assembly will be held on February 16 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2. A total of 297 candidates tried their luck in the 2018 assembly elections.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) G Kiran Kumar Dinakar Rao said in a press conference, “310 candidates had filed nominations to contest the elections. Of these, 19 nomination papers were rejected due to procedural lapses.
He said that 32 candidates withdrew their nominations. Thursday was the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers. The CEO said, “Now 259 candidates are in the fray.”
He said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 55 candidates, while its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), has fielded candidates for six seats. The IPFT will fight a friendly contest with its ally BJP in Ampinagar assembly constituency in Gomti district.
The CEO said the CPI(M) will contest alone on 43 seats, while the other Left Front constituents – Forward Bloc, RSP and CPI – will field candidates on one seat each. The Congress, which is contesting the elections in alliance with the Left Front, has fielded candidates on 13 seats.
The CEO said Tipra Motha, floated by Pradyot Kishor Manikya Debbarma, a scion of the erstwhile royal family, has fielded candidates on 42 seats. Trinamool Congress has fielded candidates on 28 seats while 58 independent candidates are also in the fray. (agency)
[ad_2]
Source link