Left Front Announces Candidates for TTAADC and Dharmanagar Assembly Bypoll in Tripura

The Left Front in Tripura on Monday announced its candidates for the forthcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and the Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll, fielding more than 70 per cent fresh faces. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), the dominant partner in the Left Front, will contest 25 of the 28 TTAADC seats, while the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have been allotted one seat each. Of the 27 candidates declared so far, 20 are first-time contestants, according to the list released by the Left Front. CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury said the candidates represent a mix of experience and youth. He said the party had nominated leaders committed to raising issues concerning people’s rights. Among the candidates, Karim Debbarma (27), contesting from Asharambari–Halahali, is the youngest, while former Chief Executive Member of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and senior leader Radhacharan Debbarma (63) is the oldest. Seven candidates are above 50 years of age and three are over 60, while the rest are younger leaders. Chaudhury said the party announced the candidates in advance as the TTAADC elections are conventionally held by mid-April. With the calendar already entering March, the party expects the poll schedule to be announced soon, he said. The CPI(M) has also nominated former MLA Amitabha Datta as its candidate for the Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll in North Tripura district. The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA and Biswabandhu Sen, who was also the Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. Chaudhury said the party would contest the bypoll as part of the democratic process. The Left Front also released the names of its candidates for the TTAADC seats, including 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 (Gandacherra–Ganganagar), 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 (Simna–Tamakari), Sanjit Debbarma (Budhjung Nagar–Waki Nagar), Brajalal Debbarma (Pekuarjola–Janmejoy Nagar), Benilal Debbarma (Takajola–Jampuijala), Brinda Debbarma (Amtali–Gholaghati), 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). The Machmara seat has been allotted to the AIFB and its candidate will be announced later. The CPI has nominated Narendra Reang from Birchandra–Kalashi, while the RSP has fielded Haradhan Jamatia from Maharani–Chellagang.