CPI (M) letter to CEO, raises concern over allege trouble on poll eve

Opposition leader and CPI (M) state secretary in another letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of ECI has registered his complaints on seven separate incidents over alleged election malpractices and violation of model code of conduct (MCC) in Tripura.

CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury in his letter to CEO,  highlighted instances of intimidation to voters, physical assaults on opposition representatives, obstruction of opposition party gatherings, and forceful fundraising tactics etc.

Chaudhury raised concerns over the misuse of governmental resources for election campaigning purposes, including alleged utilization of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) office complex as an election office allegedly made by BJP candidate for 7-Ramnagar assembly by-poll, Dipak Majumder, who is also Mayor of AMC. “BJP candidate from 7-Ramnagar AC Sri Dipak Majumder in the capacity of his present incumbency as Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation has been using his office complex as his election office for the Assembly bye-election. He parked all the campaign vehicles inside the AMC office complex which is a violation of the MCC,” said Chaudhury and attached a news cutting of a vernacular daily.

Chaudhury emphasized the urgent need for proper investigations into these allegations to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The complaints underscore growing tensions surrounding the upcoming elections in Tripura, with opposition parties demanding stringent action against those found guilty of violating electoral rules.

“CPI(M) candidate from 7-Ramnagar Constituency has submitted a Memorandum apprehending manipulation of election in some particular polling Booths and demanding best security arrangement not only on the polling booths areas, but also in all the lanes and by-lanes leading to the polling booths, so that no intending voters could be prevented from reaching to polling booth, “ said Chaudhury in his letter and added that the  apprehension  of CPI(M) candidate is based on ground reality to be addressed by the Election Authority.

“These incidents are ominous signs against the exercise of democratic practice in the BJP regime.  Now, being chief of the election Organization of the state, it is up to you, whether you would take credit of making this election a festival of democracy or let  the state of Tripura clad with defame of turning the day as a black day of democracy like that in 2019 Lok Sabha election,” said Chaudhury.