Congress releases list of 17 candidates for Tripura Assembly polls

The Congress on Saturday announced a first list of 17 candidates for the Tripura Assembly polls, with names like Prasanta Sen Choudhury, Sudip Roy Barman and Birajit Sinha getting a ticket from the national party.

Of the 17 candidates, five are from either a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe. Only one of the 17 is a woman, Rubi Gope, contesting from the Kamalpur constituency.

The Congress is part of the left front in the state, partnering up with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the last assembly polls in 2018, the BJP for the time had formed a government in Tripura, considered a left bastion. The CPI(M) had previously ruled the state for 25 years.

On January 25, the Left Front had declared candidates for 47 Assembly constituencies including one independent, leaving 13 seats for the Congress as part of the decision by the party's high command in Delhi.

However, the Congress which has a lone MLA in the assembly as of now, was upset over what it felt was a meagre allocation given its potential strength. On Saturday, an 'angry' Congress announced candidates for 17 Assembly seats out of 60-member Assembly, leaving analysts flummoxed.

“We had a first round meeting with Congress leaders over the seat sharing deal. The Congress leaders are seeking more seats. The matter is under consideration of the Left parties including CPI(M)”, party state committee member Pabitra Kar told PTI.

He indicated that a 'few more seats' will be given to Congress so that the seat adjustment deal works. This will be finalised by the central leadership of both parties. “Whatever decision is taken it will have to be made by today itself because tomorrow will be the last date for making nominations for the ensuing elections' ', he said.