The CPI(M)-led Left Front on August 13 declared its candidates for the September 5 byelections in the Dhanpur and Boxanagar Assembly constituencies.
Kaushik Chanda will be the Left Front candidate from Dhanpur and Mizan Hussain from Boxanagar.
Mr. Chanda was defeated by BJP leader and Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik in the Assembly election held in February. The TIPRA Motha candidate played spoilsport in the constituency. Dhanpur was the home turf of former Chief Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Manik Sarkar, but he did not contest the Assembly election.
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The seat fell vacant after Ms. Bhoumik resigned. She is also an MP from the State.
The Boxanagar byelection was necessitated by the death of CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque. The current candidate is his son.
The CPI(M) and its alliance partner, Congress, had earlier approached the TIPRA Motha to fill common Opposition candidates in both constituencies. Leaders of the three parties held a meeting to discuss the formation of an alliance.
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TIPRA leader and Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma later said the apex body of the party would take a final decision on the issue.
The CPI(M) leaders on Sunday said they were interested in receiving support from the TIPRA, but could not wait for a decision from the regional party. They said the Left candidates would submit their nominations on August 16.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders and Ministers are working out the party’s strategy for the byelections. Chief Minister Manik Saha attended a meeting on Saturday evening.
Names of former Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarman, BJP State President Rajiv Bhattacharjee and former MLA Subal Bhowmik are doing rounds for Dhanpur. The BJP may renominate Tafajjal Hussain in Boxanagar.
