Agartala, Jan 29, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES DESK
Agartala, Jan 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going through serious dissidence over the selection of candidates in several seats.
According to reports coming from Kanchanpur, Bagbassa, Jubarajnagar, Kamalasagar and Jolaibari, the BJP karyakartas are unhappy with the nominated candidates.
Meanwhile, BJP fielded Antara Deb Sarkar in Kamalasagar seat, Jadav Lal Nath in Bagbassa and sitting MLA Malina Debnath in Jubarajnagar.
On the other hand, the ruling BJP allotted Kanchanpur and Jolaibari seats to its alliance partner- IPFT.
In Kamalasagar, a section of the BJP karyakartas expressed resentment over the nomination of Deb Sarkar. In protest against the party’s decision, one of the aspirants Shyamal Bhakta Chowdhury resigned from BJP and decided to contest the polls as an independent candidate. He is hopeful that the people of Kamalasagar would elect him with a considerable margin.
In Bagbassa and Jubarajnagar constituencies also, the selection of candidates sparked off resentment among the karyakartas. However, the candidates are hopeful of party’s victory in both seats.
Irked at the party’s decision on alliance with IPFT in Kachanpur seat, the local BJP leaders announced an independent candidate for the ensuing assembly elections.
BJP-supported Biman Jai Reang would now contest from Kanchanpur as independent candidate. The local BJP leaders announced the decision at a press conference followed by a meeting with BJP booth presidents of the constituency and members of seven fronts at the Kanchanpur mandal office on Sunday.
Janjati Morcha vice-president Raicharan Reang, member Arun Nath, Mandal committee president Gautam Chandra Roy, Editor Tapsendu Nath, vice-presidents Rabindra Kar, and Jirendra Reang, Mahila Morcha district committee member Lipika Barua, and Mahila Morcha were present in this press meet.
Mahila Morchar Kanchanpur Mandal Committee president Ompi Barua and party workers also attended the meeting. Later, a huge rally was taken out in support of the independent candidate in the presence of party leaders.
In Jolaibari, the BJP karyakartas put the local party office under lock and key as BJP decided to give this seat to its alliance partner IPFT.
According to a section of local party karyakartas, they worked hard to make this seat free from CPI-M. As the BJP shared this seat with IPFT, the decision sparked off serious resentment among the local workers and supporters.
However, there was no decision to change candidate in any of the seats till the last information came in. Meanwhile, Monday is the last day for filing nominations.
IANS reported, a BJP leader said that despite knowing a huge anti-incumbency wave against many ministers and sitting MLAs, the party has renominated over 15 candidates, which might help the opposition to garner support.
"Promising tribal leaders of BJP and those who would have much winning prospects were deprived of the party nomination, and unwanted people and those who joined the party recently from other parties were given tickets though here winnability is also minimal," the BJP leader said, refusing to be named.
The opposition Congress has also faced protests, factional feuds in Boxanagar, Kamalpur, and Dharmanagar constituencies over the selection of candidates.
A section of Congress workers threatened to quit the party unless the official candidates were changed.