Agartala, Feb 04, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Agartala Feb 04: Supporters of CPM and Congress held joint rallies in different parts across the State on Saturday. So long, election campaigns were almost one-sided with the dilemma over the alliance and seat-sharing issues.
After the issues were sorted out, Congress and CPM activists hit the ground and started canvassing for either Congress or CPM candidates.
A joint rally was held in support of Sudip Roy Barman in the 6-Agartala seat. Roy Barman, the sitting MLA of Congress - is contesting against BJP’s Papiya Dutta in this prestigious seat.
At Teliamura, CPM and Congress organized a poll rally in support of Congress candidate Ashok Kumar Baidya who is contesting against sitting MLA of BJP and Chief Whip of State Assembly Kalyani Roy. In the 2018 Polls, CPM performed poorly scoring only 38.66% votes whereas Roy polled 57.30% votes. On the Congress ticket, Nitya Gopal Rudra Pal contested in the 2018 polls but failed to cross the 500-mark.
In 2023, Congress fielded Ashok Baidya and with the CPM backing, Baidya is trying to put up a good contest against Kalyani Roy. With today’s rally in Teliamura, Congress-CPM started their joint campaign for Baidya.
In the Kumarghat sub-division, activists of Congress and CPM held a joint rally in support of Congress candidate Sudhangshu Das for the 50-Pabiachhera Assembly Constituency. Among the leaders, CPM leader Samiran Malakar who contested in 2018 and other leaders of both parties took part in the rally. Das is contesting Minister Bhagaban Das of the BJP. In the 2018 assembly polls, BJP polled 55.11% votes while CPM and Congress polled 41.03 and 2.05% votes respectively. In the 2023 election, TIPRA Motha is also in the fray.
Meantime, CPM and Congress are working hard to snatch the Pabiachhera seat from BJP and also started door-to-door campaigns. A section of the BJP district leaders quit the party and joined Congress on Friday.
“There will be a close contest this time and how votes TIPRA Motha can poll would be a crucial factor”, locals claimed.
In Kalyanpur, CPM nominated candidate Manindra Chandra Das held a door-to-door campaign at the South Durgapur area under the 27-Kalyanpur-Pramodnagar constituency today. Congress and CPM supporters took part in the campaign. Manindra Chandra Das will be contesting against BJP’s sitting MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury. Besides, one Independent candidate and a TIPRA Motha candidate are also in the contest.
In the 2018 Assembly polls, Pinaki Das Chowdhury (52.53%) defeated Manindra Chandra Das (44.40%) whereas Congress polled less than 1% votes.