Agartala, March 23: The by-election in Tripura’s 56-Dharmanagar Assembly constituency witnessed a high-voltage political moment on Monday as Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee filed his nomination papers amid a massive and vibrant procession.
The rally commenced around 11 a.m. from the District Congress Bhavan in Dharmanagar, drawing thousands of party workers and supporters. The large turnout brought parts of the town to a standstill as participants marched through key roads, waving party flags and raising slogans in support of the candidate. The procession culminated at the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Returning Officer Debyani Choudhury, where Bhattacharjee officially submitted his nomination.
Leading the rally from the front, Bhattacharjee received an enthusiastic response from supporters throughout the route. Addressing the media after filing his nomination, he exuded confidence about his electoral prospects, asserting that the people of Dharmanagar would back Congress in its commitment to development and safeguarding citizens’ rights.
Political observers view the scale of the rally as a significant show of strength by the Congress ahead of the April 9 by-election. Described by locals as “flood-like,” the turnout is being interpreted as an attempt by the party to re-establish its footing in a constituency that has drawn statewide attention following the demise of veteran leader Biswa Bandhu Sen.
The Dharmanagar seat is expected to witness a keen triangular contest, with candidates from major political parties vying for dominance. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Jahar Chakraborty, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has nominated Amitabha Dutta.
While Monday’s rally has injected fresh momentum into the Congress campaign, analysts caution that large public gatherings do not always translate into electoral success. The coming days are likely to see intensified campaigning by all sides as they seek to convert public support into votes in what is shaping up to be a closely watched electoral battle.
