Agartala (Tripura), Mar 22: After BJP, now it was turn for Congress in announcing the candidates’ names for two Lok Sabha seats in the State. While, the saffron party announced names as expected, Congress has sprung a surprise.
Congress leadership has cleared the name of member of Tripura Royal family and elder sister of TPCC chief Pradyot Kishor Debbarman as Party’s nominee in the East Parliamentary constituency today. In the other seat – West Parliamentary constituency, new entrant to Congress Subal Bhowmik’s candidature has got the nod, sources said.
Party sources said, Pragya Debbarman will contest as Congress candidate in reserved East Parliamentary seat. The East seat was once represented by her father Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya Dev Barman as well as her mother Bibhu Kumari Devi.
The move to field Pragya Debbarman in East seat appears to be shrewd political move by the TPCC chief. “Indigenous people have a strong affinity and attachment to Royal family. Fielding Pragya Debbarman is a well calculated step aimed at swaying the tribal sentiments in favour of Congress”, a political analysts opined.
With BJP’s ally is already in the fray, candidature of a Royal member will throw the poll battle in East Constituency wide open. Although yet to be officially ‘cleared’, Subal Bhowmik contest from the West Seat. Bhowmik, who was BJP vice president, joined Congress on March 19 last and straight became Congress candidate for all important West Parliamentary seat.
It appears that Bhowmik had prior discussions and understandings with Congress leadership relating to candidature. Becoming a Congress candidate within 3-4 days after joining the party is unprecedented in the history of the State and the decision is sure to raise several eyebrows.
