Ratan Lal Nath Claims BJP-NDA Set for Unopposed Victory in 65 Seats Across Five Civic Bodies; Proposes Training BJP Members as Opposition
Minister Ratan Lal Nath has attributed the unopposed victories in several civic bodies in the upcoming municipal elections to what he described as the organisational weakness of opposition parties. He claimed that no opposition candidate could file nomination papers in a total of 65 seats across five municipal bodies — Mohanpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Santirbazar and Kamalpur.
Agartala:: Minister Ratan Lal Nath has attributed the unopposed victories in several civic bodies in the upcoming municipal elections to what he described as the organisational weakness of opposition parties. He claimed that no opposition candidate could file nomination papers in a total of 65 seats across five municipal bodies — Mohanpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Santirbazar and Kamalpur. Consequently, BJP and NDA candidates are set to win these seats unopposed.
The minister stated that elections are scheduled to be held for 345 seats across 21 municipal councils and urban local bodies in Tripura. The deadline for filing nominations has already expired, and scrutiny of nomination papers is currently underway. November 10 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
Meanwhile, Ratan Lal Nath categorically rejected the CPI(M)'s allegations that opposition candidates were obstructed from filing their nomination papers in Mohanpur and Jirania. He claimed that the opposition was portraying the presence of BJP workers and supporters as an attempt to create obstacles. Nath also said that he personally visited several areas on the final day of nomination filing. He dismissed the opposition's allegations as false.
The minister further claimed that opposition parties had failed to field candidates in several seats due to a shortage of suitable candidates and proposers. According to him, the political support base of opposition parties in the state is gradually weakening.
On the reported electoral understanding between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, Nath said the arrangement had been made in the interest of the state's development. He also stated that the Tipra Motha, BJP and IPFT were working together to formulate their electoral strategy.
However, the most notable part of the minister's remarks concerned the possible absence of an effective opposition in some municipal bodies following the unopposed victories. Acknowledging this possibility, Nath proposed identifying three to four elected BJP members in municipal bodies where there would be no opposition party, assigning them the role of the opposition.
He even suggested that these BJP members could be given training on how to perform the role of a constructive opposition.
The minister's proposal to train BJP members to function as the opposition, while simultaneously attributing the unopposed victories to the organisational weakness of rival parties, has added a new dimension to the political debate surrounding the upcoming civic elections in Tripura.