Chief Minister Manik Saha to contest by-polls, gives clear indication, seat to be decided by party

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 24, 2022

The new chief minister Dr Manik Saha will contest by-election from one of the four vacant seats in the state assembly. After being sworn in as chief minister on May 15 Manik needs to be elected to state assembly within next six months and , as per reports , the by-polls are likely to be held by July 4 to Town Bardowali, 6-Agartala, Surma and Jubaraj Nagar assembly seats. Speaking on the issue Dr Manik Saha told media persons yesterday that ‘since I have become chief minister I have to contest by-polls to get elected to the assembly and I will do so’. He added that things will be clear after the notification for polls is issued by the election commission. He refused to commit on the seat from where he will contest except saying that the matter will be decided by the party high command. But he is likely to contest from the 8-Town Bardowali seat where his congress opponent will be former MLA and old acquaintance Asish Saha of Congress.

Meanwhile, sources in BJP said that holding the by-elections is exclusive prerogative of the election commission and it may choose to prepone the assembly polls in Tripura which is actually due in February next year. “

It may so happen that the elections to Tripura assembly may come off along with the elections in Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland in the month of November and in that case by-elections may not be held in Tripura; everything in this regard depends on the decision of the election commission” sources said.