BJP names ex-Tripura CM Biplab Deb for Rajya Sabha election

Arun Singh, the BJP's national General Secretary (Headquarters), announced late Friday night that Deb had been nominated for the Rajya Sabha elections by the Central Election Committee (CEC).

Expressing his gratitude to the central leadership, Deb tweeted: "Gratitude to PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, President Shri J P Nadda Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji for nominating me as a BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha MP from Tripura. I am committed to work for the development and welfare of Tripura and it's people."

Earlier on Friday, BJP President J.P. Nadda appointed Deb as Haryana's state observer. Deb, who resigned from his position as chief minister on May 14 at the request of the central leaders, would face Left Front candidate and former Tripura finance minister Bhanulal Saha, who is supported by the CPI-M, in the upper house elections.

Dental surgeon-turned-politician Manik Saha, who became Chief Minister on May 15, a day after Deb resigned, and was elected to the Assembly in the June 23 by-elections, resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 4, causing the vacancy.

Deb's election to the Rajya Sabha is nearly assured as the ruling BJP (36) along with its ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (8), have 44 MLAs in the 60-member house, compared to the opposition CPI-M with 15 MLAs.

According to party sources, the lone Congress MLA, Sudip Roy Barman, is expected to support the CPI-M-led Left Front nominee in the RS polls.  The Election Commission on Monday issued the statutory notification on Monday for the September 22 elections, and counting of votes would take place on the same day.