Campaigning for single-phase Tripura polls ends

Agartala, Feb 21: The campaigning for the single-phase Assembly poll in Tripura on February 23, ends on Feb 21. Even though the Left parties support the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre. They are the main rivals in the poll-bound Tripura. Cadres of both the parties' have been aggressively campaigning for the coming election. The political parties are seriously campaigning with important national leaders and over a hundred star campaigners addressing the party rallies and public meetings in every part of the state. In all 313 candidates, including 28 women aspirants, are in the fray to elect the 60-member State Assembly.

The ruling CPI-M has fielded 56 candidates, while its allies - the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) - have put up two candidates each. The main opposition Congress has nominated 48 candidates and allotted 11 seats to its tribal-based ally, the INPT. One seat has been left for the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS), a local party formed by breakaway leaders of the CPI-M. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 49 candidates and allotted 11 seats to its new electoral partner, the United Democratic Front (UDF), a party formed by disgruntled tribal leaders of different political parties. The All India Trinamool Congress, which nominated 21 candidates, has entered into an alliance with the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP).

Over 20 lakh 30 thousand voters are expected to cast their votes in the state for which around 2,390 polling booths will be in place. The counting of ballots will take place on March 7. The five-year term of the 60-member state assembly ends in March.

ANI