Tripura Polls 2023: Key Candidates Key Constituencies

A total of 259 candidates are in the fray for the Tripura assembly elections, voting for which will take place on February 16

A total of 259 candidates are in the fray for the Tripura assembly elections, voting for which will take place on February 16.

The fate of 55 candidates from BJP, 43 from CPI-M, 42 from TIPRA Motha, 28 from Trinamool Congress (AITC), 13 from Congress (INC), 6 from IPFT (BJP’s ally), one each from CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, and 58 as Independents, 7 from unrecognised parties would be sealed on Thursday, February 16.

1. Pranajit Singha Roy (BJP), Agriculture Minister. Contesting from Radhakishorpur

Pranajit Singh Roy is the sitting MLA of the Radhakishorpur constituency. He won the seat by defeating Srikanta Datta of the Revolutionary Socialist Party with a margin of 4846 votes. He secured 22,424 votes while Srikanta Datta secured 17, 568 votes.
Pranajit Singh Roy had contested the 2013 and 2008 Tripura Assembly elections as a Congressman from Radhakishorpur constituency in Gomati district in the Tripura Legislative Assembly. He won the 2013 assembly elections.
In 2016, he joined Trinamool Congress. In August 2017, he joined the BJP.
Pranajit Singha Roy’s opponents this time are Partha Karmakar of CPI-ML, Srikanta Datta of Revolutionary Socialist Party and two Independents – Ratan Debbarma and Bibhu Lal Dey.

2. Santana Chakma, (BJP) Minister of Social Welfare and Social Education. Contesting from Pencharthal

Santana Chakma, Minister of Social Welfare and Social Education and Animal Resource Development, is the sitting MLA of the Pencharthal constituency. In 2018, she defeated CPI (M) candidate Anil Chakma by a margin of 1,373 votes. She is again contesting the 2023 elections from Pencharthal constituency as a BJP candidate.
Santana Chakma’s opponents are Sadhan Kumar Chakma (CPI-M), Hollywood Chakma (Tipra Motha) and Karnadhan Chakma (IND).

3. Bhagaban Chandra Das, Labour, SC Welfare Minister. Contesting from Pabiachhara

Bhagaban Das is the sitting MLA of Pabiachhara constituency. In 2018, he won the Pabiachhara seat by defeating Samiran Malakar of CPI-M with a margin of 5827 votes. Bhagaban Chandra Das is again contesting the 2023 elections as a BJP candidate from Pabiachhara constituency.
He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and worked for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 1993 Assembly Election. Later, he worked as ‘Maha Mantri’ of Unakoti district.
In 2008 and in 2013, he contested in the Assembly Election as a BJP candidate. In 2018, he was elected as an MLA of Tripura Legislative Assembly, and he is the currently the Minister of Welfare of Scheduled Castes of Tripura.
Bhagaban Chandra Das‘s opponents are Satyaban Das (Congress), Arjun Nama (IND) and Gobinda Das (Tipra Motha).

4. Sushanta Chowdhury, Minister for Information & Cultural Affairs- Majlishpur

Sushanta Chowdhury, BJP, is the sitting MLA of Majlishpur constituency. He is currently serving as Minister of Information & Cultural Affairs, Sports & Youth Affairs, Public Works Department (DWS).
In 2018, he became the MLA from Majlishpur Constituency by defeating CPI(M) candidate Manik Dey by a margin of 3,890 votes. He is again contesting the 2023 assembly elections as a BJP candidate.
Sushanta Chowdhury’s opponents in the 2023 elections are Samir Babu (Tipra Motha), Nirmal Majumder (TMC) and Sanjoy Das (CPI-M).

5. Brishaketu Debbarma, TIPRA Motha leader contesting from Simna

Former IPFT MLA and TIPRA Motha leader Brishaketu Debbarma is contesting from Simna constituency. In 2018, he won the seat for IPFT by defeating CPI(M) candidate Prnab Debbarma by 1963 votes. He secured 15,977 votes while Prnab Debbarma secured 14,014.
Brishaketu Debbarma then parted ways with IPFT and joined Pradyot Kishore Debbarman-led TIPRA Motha last year.

Brishaketu Debbarma’s opponents are–Jiten Debbarma (IND), Binod, Debbarma (BJP) and Kumodh Debbarma (CPIM)

6. Ratan Lal Nath, Education Minister contesting from Mohanpur

State education minister and BJP leader Ratan Lal Nath is contesting from Mohanpur constituency. He also held the portfolio for the welfare of OBCs and minorities. A 6-time MLA from Mohanpur, Nath has won the seat 5 times as a Congress candidate and in 2018 he won as a BJP candidate. He has been winning the seat since 1993.

He left Congress in 2017 and joined BJP. In 2018, Nath won the seat by defeating CPI(M) candidate Subhas Chandra Debnath by 5176 votes.

The BJP heavyweight’s opponents this time are-Jharna Majumder (CPIM), Prasanta Sen Chowdhury (Congress), Tapas Dey (TIPRA Motha) and Joy Kumar Deb (IND)

7. Ram Pada Jamatia, Minister of Tribal Welfare, Ind & Commerce. Contesting from Bagma

Minister of Tribal Welfare and Industry & Commerce and BJP leader Ram Pada Jamatia is contesting from Bagma seat. Jamatia who is also a veteran tribal leader is the incumbent MLA of the constituency. He is contesting from the seat for the second time. In 2018, He won the seat by defeating CPI(M) candidate Naresh Chandra Jamatia by 2,833 votes. He was sworn in as Cabinet Minister on 16 May 2022.
Naresh Chandra Jamatia is his strongest opponent in the constituency besides TIPRA Motha candidate Purna Ch. Jamatia.
Bagma seat is reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes.

8. Prem Kumar Reang, Cabinet Minister contesting from Kanchanpur

Minister of Fisheries and Co-Operation and Tribal Welfare and IPFT leader Prem Kumar Reang is contesting from Kanchanpur constituency. He is the incumbent MLA from the seat. In 2018, He won the seat by defeating then-incumbent MLA and CPI(M) candidate Rajendra Reang by 4131 votes. He was sworn in as Cabinet Minister on 16 May 2022.
Kanchanpur is reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes.

This election his opponents are – Philip Kumar Reang (TIPRA Motha), Shankar Reang (Tipraland State Party), Rajendra Reang (CPIM)and Independent candidates Indralekha Chakma and Bimanjoy Reang.

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