Agartala, Nov 13: As many as 785 candidates of various political parties will be contesting in the forthcoming Tripura Local Body Polls scheduled on November 25 next.
The figure included 334 BJP candidates, 197 CPI(M) candidates, 120 TMC, six CPI, 92 Congress, two RSP, three AIFB, 21 others and 10 Independent candidates.

There are total 334 seats in Agartala Municipal Corporation (51 wards), 19 Municipal Councils and six Nagar Panchayats across the state. As per report, the ruling BJP has won 112 seats uncontested.

According to the State Election Commission report, total 36 candidates—15 CPM, 4 TMC, 8 Congress, two AIFB and seven Independent candidates—had withdrawn nominations on the last day for withdrawal of candidature.

In Agartala Municipal Corporation, 8 candidates-- four CPI(M), two Congress, one AIFB and one Independent-- had withdrawn candidatures. After scrutiny total 871 nominations were found valid.

Meanwhile, with the civic body polls around the corner, the ruling BJP and the West Bengal-based party Trinamool Congress that is trying to make inroads in the state are campaigning hard to hit the best.

The candidates of both the parties are going door-to-door in various places—while the BJP already won 112 out of 334 seats uncontested, the TMC is mainly focusing on the Agartala Municipal Corporation areas.

As the trend shows, the TMC is going to be a challenge for the BJP in the coming days—if not in the ensuing polls.

But, what appeared to be surprising is that the main opposition CPI-M has seemingly turned mute spectator though the party is still the main contestant as per BJP’s version. After senior leader Jitendra Chaudhury got the baton, a new hope was visible among the leftists in the state.

But, as it seems, the party is now leaving more space to continue the trend—disconnection from the grass root.

On the other hand, the Congress has gradually lost its importance in state politics. Even, three-four years ago, nobody might have thought that the Congress would face such a crisis to field candidates in all seats of urban bodies.

As per the State Election Commission, total 5,94,772 voters— 2,93,979 males, 3,07,077 females and 16 others—are eligible to cast their votes in the ensuing elections.

However, with all the candidates are hopeful of victory, Tripura in all likelihood is going to witness a different urban body election this time.