Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and TIPRA Motha have announced their decision to refrain from fielding their own candidates in the by-elections to the Boxanagar and Dhanpur seats in Tripura. Instead, the two political entities have come together to thwart the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) chances of emerging victorious in these key constituencies.
Addressing the media from the state party headquarters, TPCC President Asish Kumar Saha said, “For the greater cause of preventing the BJP from clinching the Dhanpur and Boxanagar seats, the Congress has opted to abstain from contesting the upcoming polls. Instead, we will rally behind the Left candidates to ensure a consolidated opposition against the BJP’s ambitions.”
Despite initial reservations over the swift candidate announcements made by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM], Saha clarified TPCC’s stance, affirming, “While we did express our concerns regarding the haste in candidate selections, it is crucial to remember that we are part of the larger united front working to dislodge the BJP from power. Thus, we have chosen to throw our weight behind the Left candidates to prevent the dilution of anti-BJP votes.”
Saha further voiced his confidence in the electorate, asserting, “Under the premise of a fair and transparent voting process, we are confident that the BJP candidates will face a resounding defeat.”
Taking the opportunity to critique the ruling party, Saha raised allegations of an attack on Congress party offices in Bagma and Agartala, hinting at a growing political tension in the region.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader and TIPRA Motha senior echoed a similar sentiment and said they would not contest the bye polls. They emphasized that the contest would be essentially a two-way tussle between the BJP and the Left Front in the Dhanpur and Boxanagar constituencies, positioning TIPRA Motha as a critical influencer in the election outcome. This perspective led the party to opt out of fielding candidates, focusing instead on leveraging their influence to shape the results.
The nuanced standpoint of TIPRA Motha would be unveiled through a press conference, shedding light on their strategic approach to the by-polls. But it became clear that they would support the Left Front too.
This unprecedented collaboration between Tripura Congress and TIPRA Motha and their support to the Left Front signifies a concerted effort to counter the BJP’s sway in the region and present a unified front against the incumbent ruling party. As the by-elections approach, all eyes are on the unfolding political dynamics and the potential impact of this strategic alliance on the electoral landscape.
