Along with the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, the lone by-election for the Dharmanagar Legislative Assembly constituency in Tripura is witnessing hectic campaigning. The bypoll for the Dharmanagar legislative assembly seat has been necessitated following the demise of sitting MLA and Speaker Bishwabandhu Sen. Apart from the three main candidates from the BJP, Left and Congress, local regional outfits and independents are also in the fray. BJP has fielded Jawahar Chakraborty, whereas Amitabh Dutta is the nominee of the CPI(M). Congress has fielded Chayan Bhattacharjee for the April 9 by-poll.
For the 28-member TTAADC polls scheduled for April 12, many senior political leaders including Chief Minister Manik Saha, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and TIPRA Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma are also campaigning on a war footing. Meanwhile Chief Minister Saha along with senior BJP leaders like Sambit Patra, Rebati Tripura, state party chief Rajib Bhattacharya, Cabinet ministers Tinku Roy, Bikash Debbarma and Sanatana Chakma among others released the party’s manifesto at Khumulunwng. The Chief Minister said that the manifesto lays emphasis on infrastructure development. He said if the BJP comes to power development of Kokborok language would be prioritised and that a medical college would be set up in Dhalai district. Senior CPI (M) leader and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar criticised the BJP and Tipra Motha for allegedly indulging in corruption. He said the mudslinging between BJP and Tipra Motha is nothing but drama.
