The Tripura Left Front Committee has urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure adequate security for opposition candidates during the nomination process for the upcoming Urban Local Body elections, alleging intimidation, threats and obstruction by miscreants allegedly backed by the ruling BJP.

In a letter addressed to State Election Commissioner P K Chakraborty on Saturday, Left Front Convener Manik Dey expressed serious concern over the prevailing situation in several urban body areas, stating that apprehensions raised by opposition parties during the all-party meeting convened on September 14 were already becoming a reality following the announcement of the election schedule.

According to the letter, opposition party representatives were allegedly prevented from attending an all-party meeting convened by the Returning Officer (SDM, Jirania) at Jirania Nagar Panchayat on Friday. Dey alleged that a Congress representative was assaulted by miscreants identified as BJP supporters while on his way to the Returning Officer’s office and was forced to return without attending the meeting.

He further alleged that a similar atmosphere prevailed in and around the Returning Officer’s office in Jirania on Saturday, with roads allegedly being obstructed to prevent CPI(M) candidates from submitting their nomination papers.

The Left Front also alleged that CPI(M) candidates in Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat faced intimidation after assembling at the party office to submit their nominations collectively. According to the letter, they were surrounded inside the party office and threatened with dire consequences if they attempted to file their nominations.

Similar allegations were raised regarding Mohanpur Municipal Council, where miscreants allegedly blocked roads leading to the Returning Officer’s office to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations.

Referring to the 2021 Urban Local Body elections, Manik Dey reminded the State Election Commission that BJP candidates had won all seats uncontested in several urban bodies, including Santirbazar, Bishalgarh, Kamalpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur and Udaipur, allegedly after opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations.

Expressing concern that a similar situation could recur in the 2026 elections, the Left Front Convener urged the Election Commission to take immediate preventive measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections and allow voters to exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation.

The letter put forward three specific demands:

1. Police escort for opposition candidates: Security arrangements should be made to escort opposition candidates from designated points to the respective Returning Officers’ offices and back, particularly in Kamalpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Udaipur, Santirbazar and Bishalgarh.

2. Protection for candidates and their families: Adequate security should be provided to opposition candidates, their family members and their residences after the submission of nomination papers to prevent any alleged retaliatory attacks or intimidation.

3. Deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces: Central paramilitary forces (CPMF) should be deployed in all urban body areas until the completion of the election process, with clear instructions to take action against unruly elements. All approach roads leading to the offices of Returning Officers should also be guarded by CPMF personnel.

The Left Front has called upon the State Election Commission to take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence of the alleged electoral irregularities witnessed in 2021 and ensure a conducive atmosphere for the forthcoming elections.