Agartala: In a surprise political move, the principal opposition coalition of Tripura Left Front on Monday declared the names of the party candidates for the politically crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and Dharmanagar assembly constituency in North Tripura district.
While political activities had been intensifying with polls drawing nearer, the state election commission was yet to announce the dates for the polls. In keeping with the tradition, CPIM which is the strongest of all parties that constitute the Left Front, had been allotted as many as 25 seats out of the 28 total. All India Forward Bloc, RSP and CPI nominated candidates would contest the elections in one seat each.
What caught the attention of the political observers was the names of fresh candidates in the list. Out of 27 names which had been made public, 20 candidates are freshers which is over 70 percent.
“We have decided to field leaders who have the courage to fight for the rights of people. In our list, you can notice a perfect blend of experience, youth and education,” said CPIM state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury.
Chaudhury’s statement was not merely lip service. The party has nominated a number of candidates who are in their 30s and 40s. Karim Debbarma who had been nominated for the Asharambari-Halahali constituency emerged as the youngest candidate in the list. He is 27. On the other hand, former Chief Executive Member of the TTAADC and veteran leader of the GMP (the tribal arm of CPIM) Radhacharan Debbarma (63) is the oldest among the party candidates. Only seven candidates are above 50 and three candidates are over 60. The rest of the others are on the younger side.
Meanwhile, the name of one candidate who will contest on the All India Forward Bloc ticket from Machmara constituency is yet to be declared.
Justifying the party’s hurry to declare the name of candidates, Chaudhury asserted that as per the convention the elections of the TTAADC were needed to be conducted by the middle of April 2026. “It is already March 09 and as per our assessment, the elections could be declared within the next few days. In view of the overall situation, we thought it would be better to be prepared for the polls with clarity on who is going to contest where,” he explained.
The CPIM also fielded ex-MLA Amitabha Datta from Dharmanagar assembly constituency which fell vacant due to the sudden demise of sitting MLA from the constituency Biswabandhu Sen. He was also the Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly.
Chaudhury claimed that Dharmanagar had been reeling under a serious lawlessness. “We are extremely pained at the demise of Speaker Biswabandhu Sen but as per the system of the democratic institutions, elections shall be conducted in the seat which was once represented by him for successive terms in a row,” he added.
On the political situation emerging in TTAADC, Chaudhury said, “The BJP and Tipra Motha are engaged in a tough contest to outperform each other in the electoral race. Leaders of both the parties have their political understanding intact while the foot soldiers are being pitted against each other. In our view, both the parties have no faith in the democratic fervour of the state and they are also against the cause that laid the foundation for creation of the TTAADC.”
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He urged voters to bless the Left Front candidates with the popular mandate.
List of Left Front Candidates for the TTAADC elections 2026: Barendra Reang (Damcherra – Jampui), Ramakanta Nath (Kanchanpur), Sadhan Chakma (Karamcherra), Badarbhum Halam (Demcherra- Kachucherra), Khusiram Tripura (Chawmanu), Rahul Das (Manu), Sumati Ranjan Chakma (Raimavalley), Dhanchamani Reang (GandacherraGanganagar), Karim Debbarma (Asharambari-Halahali), Atul Debbarma (Kulai-Chamlahaur), Ratan Kishore Jamatia (Teliamura-Maharani), Samaresh Debbarma (Ramchandraghat), Surya Debbarma (Mandwi-Pulinpur), Radhacharan Debbarma (Jirania), Amulya Debbarma SimnaTamakari, Sanjit Debbarma (Budhjung Nagar-Waki Nagar), Brajalal Debbarma (PekuarjolaJanmejoy Nagar), Benilal Debbarma (Takajola- Jampuijala), Brinda Debbarma (AmtaliGholaghati), Amrita Sadhan Jamatia (Bagma), Magendra Reang (Natun Bazar- Malbasa), Prithwiraj Koloi (Ompi), Parikshit Murasingh (Kathalia-Mirza- Rajapur), Barjung Tripura (Purba Muhuripur- Bhuratali) and Uchathoi Mog (Silacharri- Manu Bankul). Meanwhile, the Machmara seat has been allotted to AIFB and the candidate shall be declared later on while Narendra Reang of CPI has been named in Birchandra-Kalashi seat, RSP’s Haradhan Jamatia has been declared the candidate from Maharani- Chellagang constituency.
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