Despite best of efforts and theatrics, Trinamool Congress fails to make a mark in this BJP-ruled northeastern state.
New Delhi: All that glitters need not be gold, or it's a case of sound and fury signifying nothing.
In the fiercely contested Tripura civic polls, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's much-hyped 'Muslim card' came a cropper.
Sources point out that the Muslim population in two key sensitive hubs, Sonamura and Kailasahar-where they are determining factors in many wards – voted for the saffron party.
A total of 334 seats are available in the urban local bodies, including 51 in Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), and there are 13 municipal councils and six Nagar panchayats altogether.
This is the first round of civic polls in the state since 2018, when the BJP had captured the well known Marxist forte after ousting the Manik Sarkar regime.
The BJP has won 112 out of the 334 seats uncontested in state capital Agartala and other urban local bodies. In Sonamura, in four wards, the Trinamool Congress was relegated to the third position. In Sonamura, it is important to note that the CPI-M remained in the second position despite defeat against the BJP.
Kailasahar's Muslim-dominated wards, too, threw up a similar outcome. In Agartala Ward 5 polls, Shyamal Pal of Trinamool Congress came a poor third.
The state capital has witnessed high political drama, battle of wits and violence lately between the BJP and Trinamool Congress.
It was alleged in the political circle that a prominent BJP leader was backing some Trinamool party candidates.
Heavy security deployment has been done across the state. Hundreds of personnel from the Tripura State Rifles and central paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive pockets and counting centres.
"A three-tier security arrangement has been made for each of counting centre by deploying CAPF as well as State Police/TSR personnel", a press release issued by the Police administration said.
In some areas, the civil administration has announced Sunday (Nov 28) as the 'dry day' to ensure law and order.
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