Agartala, Apr 12, 2024, By Our Correspondent
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to headline an election rally and participate in a roadshow in Agartala on April 16, marking the INDIA bloc's inaugural major campaign event in Tripura for the Lok Sabha polls.
Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former minister Sudip Roy Barman expressed concerns over the shortage of vehicles, hindering the mobilization of party supporters from remote areas of Tripura. "Despite efforts, securing sufficient vehicles for transporting party supporters to Agartala has been challenging, with many already booked by rival parties," Roy Barman conveyed to the press.
Due to transportation constraints, organizers have adjusted plans, opting for a smaller gathering during Priyanka Gandhi's roadshow in Agartala, limiting the scale of her address to the public.
The situation has drawn attention to the inherent advantage enjoyed by the ruling BJP, with Roy Barman noting the perceived ease in securing vehicles for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming rally on April 17.
"The ruling side always has an advantage," Roy Barman stated, underscoring the difficulties encountered in securing vehicles for campaigning despite inquiries made. He emphasized that, despite facing hurdles, the Congress remained committed to its campaign efforts.
Drawing parallels to a 'Dharmayuddha' or a battle of righteousness, the Congress leader expressed confidence in the triumph of 'dharma' (righteousness) and 'nyay' (justice) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the upcoming multi-cornered contest, Tripura unit Congress chief Asish Kumar Saha is contesting the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat against former Tripura Chief Minister and BJP candidate Biplab Kumar Deb. Meanwhile, Kriti Singh Debbarma, scion of Tripura's erstwhile Manikya royal family, is contesting from the Tripura East (ST) constituency as a BJP candidate against former CPI-M MLA and Left nominee Rajendra Reang, both representing the INDIA bloc.
The Tripura West and Tripura East Lok Sabha seats are slated for polling in two phases, on April 19 and April 26, respectively, setting the stage for a keenly contested electoral battle.