A delegation representing five Left Front-supported parties has urged the Tripura government to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections to 20 urban local bodies, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), alleging intimidation of opposition candidates and polling agents during previous electoral processes.
Addressing a press conference at the CPI(M) state headquarters at Melarmath area of Agartala on Thursday afternoon after their deputation to Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Left Front convener and former minister Manik Dey said miscreants had allegedly prevented candidates of opposition parties from contesting elections by taking control of returning officers’ offices from the first day of notification for filing nominations until the last date for submission.
He further alleged that opposition polling agents were attacked and obstructed on polling day. While some were prevented from reaching polling stations, others who managed to enter were forcibly removed.
The Left Front leaders urged the Chief Minister to provide adequate police protection to opposition polling agents while travelling to polling stations and returning home after the completion of voting.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the delegation demanded the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) at all polling stations on election day. It also called for extensive route marches by central forces for seven days to build confidence among voters and create a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.
The delegation further demanded that the Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayat areas of Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Santirbazar, Bishalgarh and Bishramganj be declared “most sensitive zones”.
They also sought adequate security under the supervision of central forces to ensure that opposition candidates could file their nomination papers without intimidation.
The memorandum was signed by Manik Dey, convener of the Tripura Left Front Committee; Ratan Das, member of the CPI(M) Tripura state committee; Milan Baidya of the CPI Tripura state council; Dipak Deb, secretary of the RSP Tripura state committee; Raghunath Sarkar of the All India Forward Bloc; and Partha Karmakar of the CPI(ML) Liberation Tripura state committee.