CPI(M) Fields Six-Time MLA Sudhan Das for Tripura Rajya Sabha Bye-Election

CPI(M) has nominated former MLA Sudhan Das for the Tripura Rajya Sabha bye-election scheduled for September 3, 2024. Das, a prominent Dalit leader, will contest against BJP's Rajib Bhattacharjee. The Election Commission has announced detailed timelines for the nomination and election process.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tripura State Committee has nominated former MLA Sudhan Das (64) for the upcoming Bye-Election of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from Tripura. The election is set for September 3, 2024, according to a press statement from CPI(M).

Jitendra Chaudhury, CPI(M) Secretary, informed in the release that Das has served six terms as an MLA from the Rajnagar (SC) Assembly Constituency in South Tripura. Das is a prominent Dalit leader and is currently a member of CPI(M)'s Tripura State Secretariat. He also serves as General Secretary of the Tripura Tapashili Jati Samanyaya Samiti.

Das's primary opponent will be BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, who has been named the party's candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Tripura. The seat became vacant following the resignation of Biplab Kumar Deb, now a victorious contestant from the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat.

The Election Commission has announced that nominations must be filed by August 21, with scrutiny occurring on August 22. Candidates can withdraw by August 26 for certain states and by August 27 for others. Polling will take place on September 3 from 9 AM to 4 PM, with vote counting scheduled for 5 PM the same day.

There are a total of 12 vacant seats across several states, including Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Odisha, and Tripura.

(With inputs from agencies.)