Agartala, June 15 - The ruling CPI(M) in Tripura today retained the Nalchar Assembly seat in Sipahijala district with its candidate defeating the Congress rival by 4777 votes.

CPI(M) candidate Tapan Chandra Das secured 18001 votes while his nearest rival from opposition Congress Dwijendralal Majumder got 13,224 votes in the bypoll which was held on June 12.

The seat fell vacant following the death of ruling CPI-M, MLA, Sukumar Burman on March 10.

Record 95.93 per cent votes were polled in the Nalchar assembly by-poll held on June 12.

The Nalchar assembly constituency was won six times by the CPI-M and two times by the Congress since Tripura was elevated to the status of a full-fledged state in February 1972. PTI