Tripura Panchayat Polls: BJP Wins 71% Seats Uncontested, CPI-M Terms it Victory of Loot and Hooliganism

There are a total of 6,889 seats in the Panchayat system, which comprises gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads, and the BJP won around 4,800 seats uncontested

Ahead of the August 8 three-tier panchayat polls in Tripura, the ruling BJP has won 71 per cent of the seats uncontested.

There are a total of 6,889 seats in the Panchayat system, which comprises gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads, and the BJP won around 4,800 seats uncontested.

In the gram panchayats, BJP won 4,551 of the total 6,370 seats uncontested, meaning no polling will be held in 71 per cent of seats.

In the 1,819-gram panchayat seats where polling will be held, the BJP has candidates in 1,809 seats, the CPI(M) has fielded nominees in 1,222 and the Congress in 731 seats.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura said, “Out of 6370 number of seats in Gram Panchayat, 4550 seats are uncontested and 1819 seats are contested. Out of the uncontested seats, one seat under the Dukli block remains vacant. In case of Panchayat Committee, out of total 423 number of seats, 235 seats are uncontested and 188 seats are contested. In the case of Zilla Parishad, there are 116 seats. Out of that, 20 seats are uncontested and 96 seats are contested.”

Meanwhile CPI-M leader, Jitendra Chaudhury called the BJP’s major lead in the Panchayat polls as a victory of loot and hooliganism.

Speaking to Northeast Live, he said, “I am really astonished. Last time in the 2019 Panchayat Polls, when Biplab Deb was the CM, 96 % of seats were occupied forcibly. This time, Dr Manik Saha’s aim was to capture 100 % of seats without any contest, i.e. unopposed. But it has not happened. I challenge Dr Manik Saha and the party’s top leaders to explain to the people of Tripura how BJP has managed 70% of seats without any contest or without any candidate from the opposition. If people are endorsing the BJP’s so-called “Viksit Bharat” agenda being implemented in the state of Tripura, then why are the BJP leaders so afraid to face the people? This is the moral defeat of BJP.”

The BJP has fielded candidates in all the 96 zilla parishad seats where polling will be held, while CPI(M) and Congress nominees are in the fray in 81 and 76 seats, respectively.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature was July 22. The votes will be counted on August 12.

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