The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition CPI-M on Tuesday separately announced their candidates for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Tripura, for which the election will be held on September 3.
BJP General Secretary Arun Singh announced Rajib Bhattacharjee's name in Delhi along with the nominees for eight other RS candidates in seven different states, while CPI-M Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury announced Sudhan Das' name as the party nominee.
A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) loyalist for the last 36 years, Bhattacharjee is currently the president of the ruling BJP's Tripura state committee.
He had unsuccessfully contested last year's Assembly election from the Banamalipur constituency.
Bhattacharjee's election to the Upper House is almost certain as the BJP has 33 members in the 60-member assembly while its two allies, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) have 13 and one, respectively.
The opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has 10 MLAs and the Congress 3.
Former Minister and Congress Working Committee member Sudip Roy Barman said that they would discuss in the party forum about supporting the CPI-M nominee.
The CPI-M and the Congress contested last year's Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in seat-sharing adjustment mode.
Unlike many senior and prominent faces in the BJP-led government in Tripura, Bhattacharjee, 52, has always maintained a low-profile.
He is seen as a time-tested face for the BJP. He joined the party in 1991.
Left leader Das, 64, is a senior member of CPI-M Tripura State Secretariat.
He is a prominent Dalit leader, and a six-time MLA from Rajnagar (SC) Assembly Constituency in Tripura.
Two Union Ministers -- Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian -- have also been nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the BJP.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, who hails from Punjab, has been nominated from Rajasthan while George Kurian -- a Kerala native and long-standing member of the BJP -- was named from Madhya Pradesh for the Rajya Sabha.
Terror, trade and talk cannot co-exist: PM Modi sends stern message to Pakistan
In a firm declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made it clear to the world that terror and diplomacy -- or terror and trade -- cannot co-exist.
Operation Sindoor: Pak begged for peace after India’s devastating strikes, says PM Modi
In the aftermath of India’s unrelenting Operation Sindoor, Pakistan was left reeling from the decisive action taken by the Indian Armed Forces. Pakistan was forced to seek escape route, and it found itself begging for peace after suffering heavy losses in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Nuclear blackmail will not come in the way of anti-terror action: PM Modi
Nuclear blackmail will not come in India's resolve to hit terror at its root in any part of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, sending a strong message to the global community against the backdrop of ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Satellite evidence: India destroyed 15 terrorist camps, including LeT headquarter
India launched a decisive counter-strike against terrorist camps along the Line of Control in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, eliminating fifteen key sites linked to extremist groups,
Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terror: PM Modi
Highlighting the significance of the operation, PM Modi said: "Operation Sindoor has not ended; it will be a continuing and decisive action against state-sponsored terror attacks on Indian citizens.”
Bangladesh: Yunus government bans former PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, its affiliates
The interim government of Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus on Monday issued a gazette notification banning all activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League and its affiliate organisations.
Not an era of terror just as it's not an era of war: PM Modi
In a special video address to the nation, PM Modi sent a strong warning to Pakistan, saying: “Terror and talk, terror and trade and water and blood cannot flow together. Talks with Pakistan will only be held on terror.”
Success of Operation Sindoor dedicated to Indian women: PM Modi
Calling the Pahalgam terror attack a personal tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated the bravery and courage of the armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor to every mother, sister and daughter of the nation.