Tripura CM Manik Saha wins crucial by-election from Town Bardowali

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha won the by-election from the Town Bardowali seat by a margin of 6,104 on Sunday, as per the Election Commission.

The chief minister, a BJP candidate, secured 17,181 votes, which is 51.63 per cent of the total votes polled.

His nearest rival Asish Kumar Saha of the Congress bagged 11,077 votes or 33.29 per cent of the total votes.

The Left Front was at the third spot as Forward Bloc candidate Raghunath Sarkar

secured 3,376 votes (10.15 per cent).

Manik Saha, a Rajya Sabha MP, was appointed the chief minister of the state last month after then CM Biplab Deb's sudden resignation. He had to win this by-election to continue as the chief minister.

He will now resign as an MP after being elected to the assembly, as per the rules.

The bypoll was held in the Town Bardowali seat after Asish Kumar Saha resigned as a BJP MLA and joined the Congress in February.