In a bid to thwart the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from securing victories in the upcoming by-elections for the Boxanagar and Dhanpur assembly constituencies, opposition political parties in Tripura have initiated discussions about forming a united front. Representatives from the Congress, TIPRA Motha, and CPI-M convened at the state headquarters of CPI-M in Melarmath to strategize against the ruling party.
Key figures from various opposition parties, including Pradesh Congress President Asish Kumar Saha, Congress MLAs Sudip Roy Barman and Gopal Roy, TIPRA Motha’s Leader of Opposition and MLA Animesh Debbarma, CPI-M State Secretary and MLA Jiten Choudhury, as well as former Ministers and CPI-M leaders Ratan Bhowmik and Manik Dey, participated in the discussions.
After a thorough exchange of views on the critical by-elections scheduled for September 5 and the prevailing political climate in the state, the opposition parties seemingly reached a consensus: in order to defeat the BJP, they must unite their efforts and field a common candidate for both assembly seats.
Addressing the media after the discussion, Pradesh Congress President Asish Kumar Saha emphasized the shared goal of preventing the BJP from securing victories in both constituencies. He expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating that the joint effort would help consolidate opposition votes and effectively challenge the BJP’s dominance in the region.
Saha acknowledged past electoral dynamics and shifts in alliances, but underscored that the current discussions yielded positive outcomes. He highlighted the collective belief that a one-on-one candidate ratio, through a united opposition front, would be the most effective approach to ensure the BJP’s defeat.
Regarding candidate selection and party representation, Saha mentioned that decisions would be reached through consultation among all participating parties.
The by-elections are set to take place in two assembly constituencies—Dhanpur and Boxanagar—following the resignation of BJP candidate MoS Pratima Bhowmik from the MLA post in Dhanpur and the passing of CPI-M MLA Shanshul Haque from the Boxanagar seat. The elections are scheduled for September 5, with vote counting slated for September 8. As political dynamics evolve, the collaborative efforts of the opposition parties will play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes of these crucial by-elections.
