Tripura By Polls: Speculations rise as BJP, IPFT announce to contest polls separately

Agartala: The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) will contest the ensuing by-elections for the three-tier Panchayat separately. The coalition in March had ended the 25 years of left rule in the state.

By-elections on 3,207 seats of gram panchayats, 161 panchayat samitis and 18 Zilla Parishad will happen on September 30.

The seats fell vacant following the mass resignation of elected representatives since the BJP-IPFT government came to power on March 9.

Education Minister of Tripura Ratan Lal Nath said that the party needs to check its independent strength and quality. Nath is also Chairman of the panchayat election committee of BJP.

Revealing the name of 3,155 candidates for the by-elections, Nath said that BJP has talked to the IPFT on this.

Mr Nath said 2,980 competitors would challenge on gram panchayats seats, 157 on panchayat Samiti seats and 18 on Zilla Parishad seats.

The contender for alternate seats would be announced later, he included.

In the meantime, both the parties in alliance at the state government have begun recording of designations from Friday.

IPFT general secretary Mangal Debbarma excessively reported that his gathering was challenging the by-polls alone and will handle competitors against the Bharatiya Janta Party