A total of 785 candidates belonging to various political parties now remain in the fray for the Urban Local Bodies elections to be held on November 25 next even as the BJP wrested the 15-ward Santirbazar Municipal Council uncontested. The victory was confirmed following withdrawal of nominations of six BJP rebel candidates. No other parties submitted nominations for the MC polls in Santirbazar. Unhappy over the candidate selections a group of BJP supporters decided to contest the Santirbazar MC Polls and fielded candidates in 6 wards. However, after the intervention of the State leaders, they decided to withdraw nomination allowing BJP to win the polls uncontested.
The SEC sources said, now with 785 candidates, there are 334 BJP candidates, 197 CPI(M) candidates, 120 TMC, six CPI, 92 Congress, two RSP, three AIFB, 21 others and 10 Independent candidates.
There are total 334 seats in Agartala Municipal Corporation (51 wards), 19 Municipal Councils and six Nagar Panchayats across the state.
According to the State Election Commission report, total 36 candidates—15 CPM, 4 TMC, 8 Congress, two AIFB and seven Independent candidates—had withdrawn nominations on Monday, the last day for withdrawal of candidature.
In Agartala Municipal Corporation, 8 candidates– four CPI(M), two Congress, one AIFB and one Independent– had withdrawn candidatures.
Meanwhile, after scrutiny total 871 nominations were found valid.