BJP wins Tripura's Charilam assembly contested by Deputy CM after post-poll violence delayed counting

Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishu Debberma on Thursday won the election at Charilam Assembly, bringing good news to the BJP a day after the party lost four bypolls a day earlier.

Taking to Twitter, Sunil Deodhar, said,"VijayRath of @BJP4India continues in Tripura. In bypoll at Charilam Assembly DyCM Jishu Debberma won the seat by highest ever margin of 25550 votes. CPM lost deposit. Kudos to Karyakartas & Hon’ble CM (sic)."

VijayRath of @BJP4India continues in Tripura. In bypoll at Charilam Assembly DyCM Jishu Debberma won the seat by highest ever margin of 25550 votes. CPM lost deposit. Kudos to Karyakartas & Hon’ble CM @BjpBiplab. Thanks to @narendramodi @AmitShah @rammadhavbjp @himantabiswa pic.twitter.com/BLMKhnWi2N

— Sunil Deodhar (@Sunil_Deodhar) March 15, 2018

Debbarma was pitted against Arjun Debbarma of the Congress, Uma Shankar Debbarma of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and Independent contestant Jyotilal Debbarma.

Earlier, additional Chief electoral Officer Tapas Ray said, 35.45% of votes were cast till 11 am and no untoward incident was reported.

After the death of Ramendra Narayan Debbarma on February 11, the CPI(M) had fielded Palash Debbarma from the seat. However, on Friday, the party withdrew his candidature alleging large-scale post-poll violence in the constituency.

Overthrowing the 25-year-long CPI(M)-led Left Front government, the BJP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) combine swept to power in the state winning 43 out of the 59 seats for which elections were held. The BJP had won 35 and IPFT eight seats. The CPI(M) got 16 seats.

The deputy chief minister, a member of Tripura's royal family, was sworn in by Governor Tathagata Roy on March 9, along with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present on the occasion.

Election in 59 seats for the 60-member Assembly was held on February 18.