The Tripura Left Front has accused BJP-backed miscreants of obstructing opposition candidates from filing nomination papers and attacking their supporters in Mohanpur, Ranirbazar and Jirania areas of West Tripura district ahead of the upcoming civic body elections. The Left Front claimed that around 15 people were injured in the alleged attacks.
Raising the allegations, Left Front leaders approached the West Tripura District Magistrate on Monday evening, demanding adequate security to ensure that all candidates could file their nomination papers without obstruction or intimidation.
Later, addressing a press conference at their party office in Melarmath area of Agartala on Monday evening, CPI(M) West Tripura district secretary Ratan Das, CITU general secretary Sankar Prasad Datta and other Left Front leaders alleged that groups of miscreants had gathered outside the SDM offices in Mohanpur and Jirania to prevent opposition candidates from submitting their nomination papers.
They also alleged that people were being subjected to searches of their bags, vehicles were being stopped on roads to obstruct movement, and JCB machines were being used to create barriers along routes leading to nomination centres. The Left leaders further claimed that opposition workers, supporters and voters were being threatened at their homes.
The Left Front alleged that its workers and supporters were attacked while proceeding to file nomination papers in Mohanpur, leaving around 15 people injured. Some of the injured were senior citizens, while a few were undergoing treatment at hospitals, they claimed.
The leaders also alleged that mobile phones, ATM cards and cash had been snatched from several people during the incidents.
Similar allegations were levelled against miscreants in Jirania, where Left Front representatives were allegedly prevented from attending an all-party meeting, the leaders said.
Following the incidents, Left Front leaders, accompanied by candidates carrying their nomination papers, visited the West Tripura District Magistrate's office on Monday and sought immediate intervention to ensure a safe and peaceful nomination process.
The District Magistrate heard their grievances and assured them that the matter would be examined, the Left leaders said.
The Left Front also appealed to Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to intervene, recalling his statement that all political parties should be given an opportunity to contest elections freely. They urged the government to ensure that the assurance was translated into action.
The Left leaders further alleged that internal differences within the BJP in Mohanpur and apprehensions about electoral defeat were behind the attempts to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations.
They demanded immediate intervention by the State Election Commission (SEC), district administration and police, stressing that a peaceful and democratic atmosphere must be maintained not only during the nomination process but also throughout election campaigning, polling and counting.
The deadline for filing nomination papers is November 6. The Left Front urged the authorities to ensure that all candidates could submit their nominations without fear or obstruction.
The allegations levelled by the Left Front could not be independently verified. Responses from the BJP leadership and the administration were not immediately available.