Left Front candidate Khagen Das routed his arch rival from Congress Sudip Roy Barman by a margin of 2,46,898 votes in the West Tripura constituency, according to official sources here on Saturday.
Announcing the election results, Returning Officer for West Tripura Lok Sabha seat, said that Left Front aspirant got a total of 5, 60,437 votes while Roy Barman of Congress bagged only 3,13,539 votes. BJP nominee, Nilmoni Deb secured 25,405 votes and Trinamool Congress candidate, Arun Chandra Bhowmik got only 5,500 votes.
In the East Tripura Lok Sabha seat, Left Front nominee and incumbent, Bajuban Reang defeated his arch rival Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl of Congress by a big margin. The ruling Front candidate bagged 5,18,190 votes while the Congress nominee got 2,24,490 votes.
Talking to reporters after the victory, Das said that he would continue to raise issues related to the welfare of the State as well its people. “We, the Communist people had to pass through struggle and this will continue”, he said.
On the humiliating defeat of the Left Front in the Lok Sabha election, Das underlined the need for self-introspection to find a way for revival. It may be noted that the Left Front had bagged 61 seats in the last Lok Sabha election but this time it won only 21-24 seats.