Agartala polls: Left, Congress seal alliance; CPI(M) files in 26 wards

The Left Front and the Congress will fight the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections together, Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury announced on Monday, as Left-backed candidates filed nomination papers in the 26 wards where the two sides have already agreed.

The announcement sets up a direct opposition challenge to the ruling BJP, which is contesting the November 27 civic polls in alliance with the Tipra Motha.

How the seats may be shared

According to CPI(M) sources quoted by Tripurainfo, the proposed arrangement gives 29 of the AMC's 51 wards to the Left Front and 22 to the Congress, under the INDIA bloc banner. Tripura Times reported that agreement has so far been reached on 26 wards, with talks continuing on the rest.

Chaudhury said decisions on the remaining wards would be taken once Congress leaders return from Delhi and hold further discussions. He expected the final understanding to be announced within the next few days, before nominations close. The Left is expected to take some of the unresolved seats, with the Congress likely to field candidates in most of the others.

On Monday, 26 CPI(M) candidates filed their papers after a large procession through Agartala.

Model may extend beyond Agartala

Chaudhury indicated that the cooperation could be extended to other municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Tripura, in a wider attempt to consolidate the anti-BJP vote in urban areas.

He said the alliance would campaign on restoring democratic practices, fighting corruption and delivering reliable civic services, arguing that city residents care more about municipal amenities than political slogans. He also accused the government of making development claims that had not reached ordinary people, a charge the alliance plans to press during the campaign.

The poll calendar

The State Election Commission has scheduled polling in 21 urban local bodies on November 27, with counting on December 2. The Left Front has already alleged that its candidates faced obstacles while filing nominations in some areas and has sought central forces for the polls.

The final candidate list and any adjustments to the seat-sharing formula are expected after the two partners complete their consultations. NEInsider will update this report when the full list is released.