AGARTALA, Feb 15—afnter the final withdrawal of nomination papers, 254 candidates are now in the fray for the February 26 Assembly elections in Tripura. Election department sources said, in the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers seven candidates opted out of the poll fight. However, most of them were independent candidates.
Among those who withdrew their papers are Lok Jana Shakti president Papri Halder from one seat-Barjala. She however will be fighting from Town Bordwali. Sources said, 280 candidates had earlier filed their nomination papers for the 60 Assembly seats but 19 nomination papers were cancelled during the scrutiny.
“Later, seven candidates withdrew their papers,” sources added. Radhakishorepur seat in South Tripura would witness a multi-cornered fight among eight candidates whereas in five seats, Khayerpur, Mandai, Asharambari, Bagma and Ampinagr seats there will be straight contests between CPI (M) and Congress-INPT. With the date of withdrawal of nomination over, the picture is clear as to who will contest each other for the 60 seats.
Among the 254 candidates, there are only 17 women candidates. Among the prominent women candidates are sitting MLA Bijoy Laxmi Sinha and Baijainti Koloy, former MLA Kartik Kanyan Debbarma, Bibha Nath and Papri Halder. CPI(M) has maximum 55 candidates followed by Congress and BJP with 42 and 21 candidates respectively. In the 1998 elections, there were 270 candidates.