Agartala: Former chief minister of Tripura Samir Ranjan Barman, 74, will contest as an Independent in this Assembly election.

Barman filed his nomination from Bishalgarh, his home turf since 1972, on Wednesday. He was accompanied by advocate Shamik Deb and his supporters.

A Congress leader for over seven decades, Barman was expelled from the party last year. Though he was seen in a few BJP rallies thereafter, he has not officially joined any party till date.

While Barman could not be contacted, BJP election in-charge for Tripura Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday evening that he would "try to appeal" to the veteran politician to join the BJP.

Barman's son and MLA Sudip Roy Barman is currently a member of the BJP's state core committee.

Asked if Sudip would be involved in the talks with his father, Himanta said, "They are two different individuals. We shall not involve him in this."

Asked why Barman was not given a BJP ticket to contest in the coming polls, Himanta said, "We have not been in talks with him so far."

Barman had started his political career as a student leader at Dwarbhanga Law College of Bengal in 1960. He later joined the Congress, where he was led by stalwarts like Pranab Mukherjee, who later graced the post of President till 2017.

Barman had served as the home minister and then chief minister during the coalition regime of Congress and Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) from 1988 till 1993.