Jishnu not very enthusiastic about contesting by-election but efforts at persuasion on

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, March 18, 2023

The ruling BJP has a plan to put up former deputy chief minister Jishnu Debbarman as party candidate for the by-election to Dhanpur assembly constituency which is likely to come off within next six months. The union minister of state Pratima Bhowmik who resigned this seat after election will continue in her present post as per wishes of the central BJP leadership and the party here has to find a suitable candidate for a sure win from Dhanpur.

But while the state BJP leadership including the chief minister Dr Manik Saha is keen to see Jishnu return to the assembly by winning the by-election , the former deputy chief minister is not very keen on contest. Sources in BJP here said that even in 2018 Jishnu had to win from Charilam in a by-election because the election there had been countermanded following death of a contesting candidate. He had an easy win in the by-election but Jishnu is reportedly deeply frustrated over his defeat against ‘Tipra Motha’ in the assembly election held to Charilam and is not keen to contest another by-election. “But Jishnu Karta has been a disciplined a faithful soldier of the party and despite his reluctance he will hopefully agree finally to contest the by-election to Dhanpur assembly constituency” said a senior leader of the party. He added that even central BJP leaders may take up the issue and persuade Jishnu Karta to agree to contest the by-election.