Agartala, Sept 10: Former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has been nominated as the candidate for bye-election to lone Rajya Sabha seat in Tripura.
The decision of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came as a surprise to many people on Friday night; it virtually put an end to all the speculations which were in the air for the last couple of days.
Soon after the official announcement, Deb expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gratitude to PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, BJP4India President Shri J.P.Nadda Ji & Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji for nominating me as a BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha MP from Tripura. I am committed to work for the development and welfare of Tripura and it's people,” Deb wrote in a social media post.
Earlier on the day, the former Chief Minister of Tripura was assigned as BJP observer for Haryana Pradesh.
The bye-election to lone Rajya Sabha seat in Tripura will take place on September 22 next and the results will be declared on the same day. The last date for filing nomination is September 12.
The scrutiny of nominations will take place on September 13 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 15.
The voting process will continue from 9 am to 4 pm on September 22 while the counting of votes will start at 5 pm.
The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after Dr. Manik Saha resigned as an MP after he became the Chief Minister of Tripura.
Dr. Saha was elected as the first BJP MP to Rajya Sabha from Tripura on March 31 last.
He had secured victory against Left Front’s Bhanulal Saha. Dr. Saha had secured total 40 votes while his opponent Bhanulal Saha received 15 votes in the 60-member Tripura Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, in another significant development, the BJP appointed MP Dr. Mahesh Sharma as the observer for the Tripura Pradesh. As the state is preparing up to go the assembly polls early next year, Dr. Sharma’s role the ruling BJP will be significant in terms of the present political scenario of the state.
