Opposition parties protest nomination of ‘Asha’ worker as BJP candidate for civic election in Sonamura

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 7, 2026

A delegation of CPI (M), Congress and ‘Tipra Motha’ leaders today met in deputation with the SDM (Sonamura) Mahendra Kambey Chakma to protest the nomination of Monowara Begum as BJP candidate for Ward no-12 of Sonamura Nagar Panchayat election on November 27. The delegation led by CPI (M) MLA of Sonamura Shyamal Chakrabort demanded that the nomination of Monowara Begum be cancelled in the process of scrutiny as she is a serving ‘Asha’ worker in her constituency.

The delegation pointed out that Monowara Begum is a serving government employee as ‘Assha’ worker and she can not contest election on behalf of a political party. Moreover , she has filed nomination for the Ward where she is posted as ‘Asha’ worker. This will give her a golden opportunity to influence voters unfairly. “According to the election commission’s guideline no one drawing salary from the government can contest any election ; so her nomination should be cancelled bur we are waiting for a decision to be taken by the returning officer and then we will exercise our legal options” said Shyamal Chakraborty.

Meanwhile, BJP sources in Sonamura dismissed the opposition demand as ‘baseless’,saying teachers of private schools in Tripura who draw salaries from the government are empowered to contest election and hence there should be no bar on ‘Asha’ workers as they are not regular employees. What they draw per month is actually an honorarium , not salary in the true sense of the term. A senior BJP leader said that the ‘puerile’ demand of the opposition can not be taken cognizance of and should be rejected out of hand by the returning officer.

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