Agartala/UNI: The ruling BJP on Tuesday night declared its candidates for by-election to Dhanpur and Boxnagar assembly seats of Tripura’s Sepahijala district after a series of meetings among the leaders.

While Taffajal Hossain has been re-nominated in Boxanagar, BJP Mandal President of the constituency Bindu Debnath was given a ticket from Dhanpur constituency which was won by CPI(M) for the last 40 years including communist stalwart Samar Chowdhury and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar until last assembly elections in March.

Union Minister of State for Empowerment and Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik won the seat in last assembly election but she resigned a fortnight after the announcement of election result because of internal politics in BJP, as she was one of the accused of working against the party candidates in several seats including Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and became a strong contender for CM post.

According to party sources, Pratima Bhoumik had been persuaded to field her brother Biswajit Bhoumik from Dhanpur but the party didn’t allow it. However, by-elections in both seats appeared to become tougher for the ruling party due to the united opposition against BJP.

Party President Rajib Bhattacharjee told media that the party is confident of the victory in the by-poll on Sept 5 and now efforts have been made to increase the winning margin and said, “Our candidates would start campaign at the household level besides, big rallies and processions after submission of nomination on Thursday.”

At present BJP has 31 MLAs and its ally IPFT has one legislator in 60 –members’ assembly. However, with the death of Samsul Haque elected from Boxanagar CPM’s strength reduced to 10, and TIPRA Motha has retained 13 and Congress has three MLAs.

Meanwhile, CPM announced Mijan Hossain, the second son of former CPM MLA Samsul Haque who died last month as a candidate from Boxnagar and it’s youth front leader Kaushik Chanda re-nominated from Dhanpur constituency.