Agartala, 11 November (H.S.): The BJP has secured 77 seats unopposed across five civic

bodies in Tripura following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the November

27 urban local body elections, an official said on Wednesday.

The unopposed victories were recorded in Mohanpur, Kamalpur,

Jirania, Ranirbazar and Santirbazar civic bodies, while elections will be held

for the remaining 268 seats across the state.

The deadline for filing nominations for 345 seats in 21

civic bodies, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), ended on

November 7. The scrutiny of nomination papers was completed on Tuesday, leaving

810 candidates in the electoral fray, State Election Commissioner P K

Chakravarty said.

According to the State Election Commission, the BJP has

fielded the highest number of candidates at 342, followed by the CPI(M) with

218 and the Congress with 201. The elections are expected to witness a

three-cornered contest among the BJP-led NDA, the CPI(M) and the Congress.

Meanwhile, allegations of intimidation and coercion during

the nomination withdrawal process have triggered a political controversy.

CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury alleged that the party's candidates

in Ambassa were forced to withdraw their nominations on Tuesday following

threats, intimidation and attacks on their residences.

However, Chakravarty said the State Election Commission had

sought reports from the Dhalai district magistrate and superintendent of police

after receiving the allegations. He said ground reports indicated that no such

incidents had taken place in Ambassa or elsewhere in Dhalai district.

Polling for the remaining 268 seats will be held on November

27, while counting of votes is scheduled for December 3.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Abhijit Deb