The ruling CPI(M) in Tripura retained the Pratapgarh and Surma Assembly constituencies in the June 27 by-elections, even as the BJP surged ahead of the Congress, which stood third.
In Pratapgarh, Ramu Das of the CPI(M) defeated Moushumi Das of the BJP by 17,326 votes. Ranjit Das of the Congress, who lost the 2013 elections by a few hundred votes, polled 5,127 votes. In Surma, Anjan Das of the CPI(M) defeated the BJP candidate by 15,309 votes. The Congress nominee polled 2,528 votes.
The CPI(M)’s victory in these constituencies reserved for the Schedule Caste comes after the Left Front scored a landslide in the elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council last month. The CPI(M)’s performance in these seats was somehow expected; but the BJP surprised many as it had forfeited deposit in the earlier elections. The outcome showed that Congress votes have gone to the BJP in large numbers. “We hoped to win at least one seat. However, it was not possible because of rigging in some places, and threat and intimidation by CPI(M) workers,” BJP State president Sudhindra Dasgupta told The Hindu .
The Congress said the results were a matter of concern for it. “In Surma, our party polled 2,600 votes; in 2013, we lost by just 1,900 votes to the CPI(M)… It is shocking,” Pradesh Congress Committee working president Ashis Kumar Saha said.
