Tripura opposition CPM, in all likelihood, will once again field former Finance Minister Bhanu Lal Saha as the Rajya Sabha nominee in the ensuing bye-polls to the Upper House from Tripura. The elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tripura will be held on September 22 next.
The bye election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat became necessary as the elected Elder Dr Manik Saha became the Chief Minister and had to relinquish the Rajya Sabha seat on July 4 last.
It may be mentioned here that Bhanu Lal Saha had earlier also fought the polls to Rajya Sabha against Dr Manik Saha, now the Chief Minister, on March 31 last but could not make it through. This time also CPM is reported to be planning to field the same old comrade for the same old battle, knowing fully well that the ruling BJP candidate’s victory will be certain in view of the strength in the assembly.
However, the ruling BJP , which is in a flux –following the resignation of former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and making some adjustments in the leaderships to meet the emerging situations. Especially before the assembly polls, seems still not at all prepared to find a suitable candidates -from a huge list of aspirants for the Rajya Sabha member candidature. Some names are making the rounds, but none of them has been ringing right bell.
However, Chief Minister Dr Saha is presently in New Delhi and he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also BJP president JP Nadda. It is learnt that Dr Saha discussed with them state’s development matters as well as the candidate for the Rajya Sabha.
If everything goes right then our candidate will be announced within a day or two, said new state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee.
The ruling BJP (36) along with its ally — Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (8) — has the strength of 44 in the 60 member house while the opposition CPI-M has 15 MLAs. The lone Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, according to the party sources, likely to support the CPI-M led Left Front nominee in the RS polls. The Election Commission on Monday issued the statutory notification on Monday for the September 22 elections, and counting of votes would take place on the same day.
