Tripura Election 2023: BJP Appears Set For Clear Majority. Left+, Tipra Motha Fight For Oppn Post

Tripura Election 2023: The BJP appears to be securing a clear majority in early trends, while the Left-Congress Alliance and Tipra Motha are fighting to become the main opposition.

TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma (L), Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar (R) ( Image Source :Facebook/@PradyotBikramManikya | PTI )

New Delhi: The counting of votes for Tripura Election 2023 began on Thursday with the BJP+ leading in 36 seats, the Left Front-Congress alliance is ahead in 13 constituencies, and the regional party Tipra Motha is also leading in 11 seats, as per unofficial trends.

Elections to the 60 assembly constituencies in the state were held on February 16, with around 89.98 per cent of voters exercising their franchise.

Alliance	Unofficial Trends (Total: 60 Seats, Majority Mark: 31)
BJP+	36 (Leading)
Left-Congress Alliance	13 (Leading)
Tipra Motha	11 (Leading)

So far, official Election Commission trends show the BJP+ leading on 13 seats, the Lef-Congress alliance ahead in 6 seats, and Tipra Motha is also leading in 5 seats.

Source: results.eci.gov.in/

The counting process commenced at 8 am amid tight security as per schedule. Notably, Chief Minister Manik Saha, contesting from the Town Bardowali constituency, is leading in his seat.

A triangular electoral battle between BJP-IPFT, the Left Front-Congress alliance, and the regional party of Tipra Motha was witnessed in the state.

For the first time, the Left Front is contesting assembly elections with its erstwhile arch-rival Congress. The poll results will reveal whether the decision of the Left Front and the Congress party to contest the election together will help them improve their footprint or further damage their standing in the state.

Meanwhile, Union minister Pratima Bhowmik is fighting from the Dhanpur constituency in Sepahijala district. CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury is contesting from the Sabroom seat.

Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the Tirpura royal scion and chairman of the Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (or TIPRA Motha), is not contesting the election himself but led the campaigning for his party, which fielded candidates in many non-tribal areas. The significant tribal vote usually swings the election.

In the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP won 36 seats, while its ally IPFT bagged 18 constituencies. The CPI(M)-led Left Front emerged victorious in 16 seats, while the Congress drew a blank.