AGARTALA | The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee has announced candidates for 49 of the 51 wards of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) ahead of the November 27 urban local body elections, ruling out any electoral understanding with the CPI(M).

The announcement came amid differences between the two parties over a possible joint contest under the INDIA alliance. CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury had indicated on November 1 that his party would contest the elections in alliance with the Congress.

However, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman said no formal discussions had taken place between the two parties, accusing the CPI(M) of announcing candidates and filing nominations without consulting the Congress. He said both parties had participated in a joint INDIA alliance rally in Agartala on October 30, following which the Congress had expected discussions on a possible electoral understanding.

“Congress is a national-level political party. If anyone thinks that Congress is a small or insignificant political outfit that can be taken for granted, that is not acceptable. There was no discussion or meeting with us,” Roy Barman said. He added that Congress leaders had travelled to Delhi after the October 30 rally and returned on November 1, when the CPI(M) announced its candidates and filed nominations.

While acknowledging Chaudhury’s interest in an alliance, Roy Barman said differences and the reluctance of certain individuals had prevented the proposal from materialising. He maintained that a joint electoral contest would have been a better arrangement.

Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha confirmed that candidates had been finalised for 49 AMC wards, with nominees for the remaining two seats expected to be announced shortly. He said party leaders were working to finalise candidates across urban local bodies and complete the nomination process.

“The party will begin filing nomination papers for its declared candidates from Thursday,” Saha said. Meanwhile, Saha raised concerns over the election environment, alleging that opposition candidates were facing intimidation and obstruction while attempting to file nominations in different municipal and nagar panchayat areas.

He specifically referred to alleged incidents in Mohanpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Kamalpur and Santirbazar, claiming that ruling party supporters were preventing opposition candidates from completing the nomination process. The Congress has approached the state administration and the State Election Commission, seeking adequate security for candidates, proposers and party representatives at nomination centres.

Referring to the 2021 urban local body elections, Saha alleged that violence and irregularities had undermined the electoral process. He said the party had raised its concerns at the all-party meeting convened by the State Election Commission and during its interaction with the State Election Commissioner.