Agartala: The Opposition Congress has fielded Tripura Pradesh Congress President Asish Kumar Saha for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency. Saha, a former MLA who contested the previous assembly elections unsuccessfully against Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha is now pitted against BJP strongman ex-CM Biplab Kumar Deb.
Speaking to EastMojo soon after his candidature was declared officially, Saha claimed that the Congress party would make good results in the ensuing elections.
He also said that he was entering the electoral fray as a candidate of the opposition bloc INDIA. “The name of candidates is declared from New Delhi. I think the decision was consciously taken after thorough consultation among the constituent parties of the alliance,” Saha added.
On being asked about his candidature against former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Saha said, “People of Tripura know both of us. My rival candidate is a known face of the state and people haven’t forgotten him in his previous role. I hope people will vote considering all factors.”
Even as the Congress party maintained that Saha was a candidate of the INDIA bloc, opposition CPIM which has now emerged as the biggest opposition force following TIPRA’s switchover to the ruling side seems not convinced with the move.
“If Saha was a candidate of the INDIA bloc, we would have announced his name together. I don’t want to rule out that both the parties are not in talks for seat sharing like the assembly elections, but no conclusive decision was taken so far,” said a senior CPIM functionary requesting anonymity.
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