Agartala, March 20: Manik Saha has expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will retain the Dharmanagar Assembly seat in the by-election scheduled for April 9, citing the party’s organisational strength and the local connect of its candidate.
Saha said the party’s central leadership has chosen Jawahar Chakraborty as its nominee, describing him as a long-time party worker with deep grassroots ties. Recalling his association with the candidate, the Chief Minister said he had often travelled with him during party work in Dharmanagar, highlighting the familiarity and acceptance Chakraborty enjoys among local voters.
The Chief Minister underlined the strategic importance of the by-election, stating that the BJP approaches every electoral contest with seriousness. He added that the party is simultaneously preparing for the district council polls and will campaign on the basis of development initiatives undertaken under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
Referring to the opposition, Saha noted that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded a candidate, while the Indian National Congress is facing challenges in the constituency. He maintained that the BJP’s candidate selection gives it a clear advantage and expressed certainty about winning the seat.
On the scheduling of Village Committee elections, Saha said the state government has proposed holding them separately, citing logistical concerns. He pointed out that conducting the polls alongside Autonomous District Council elections would be difficult, particularly due to the monsoon season, and added that the matter is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.
