The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Belonia Sub-divisional Committee in Tripura on August 8 launched a scathing attack on the State Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party accusing them of blatantly disregarding the High Court’s directives to conduct the three-tier panchayat elections in the state in a free and fair manner.
Addressing a press conference the CPI(M) leaders alleged that the state election authorities have failed to ensure a peaceful election process as reports of widespread violence and disruption by BJP-backed goons across the Belonia Sub-division.
“The panchayat election process started with the murder of CPI(M) candidate Badal Shil who was nominated for the South Tripura Zilla Parishad’s seat no 4,” said Basudeb Majumder, the South Tripura District Secretary of CPI(M).
He also mentioned that CPI(M) and other opposition parties were being forced to refrain themselves to file nominations in many Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads including in Rajnagar Block and Hrishyamukh Block
The leaders further claimed that in several instances the BJP workers have forcefully withdrawn the nominations of the opposition candidates in blatant disregard of the High Court’s directives.
“Throughout the day BJP-backed goons have been illegally gathering at all 196 polling stations under the Belonia Sub-division, preventing CPI(M) leaders, workers, and supporters from accessing the polling booths. Even some BJP workers were not allowed to vote in certain areas. This is a complete travesty of democracy,” said Dipankar Sen, a CPI(M) leader.
Tapash Datta, the Belonia Sub-divisional Secretary of the CPI(M) asserted that the High Court had directed the State Election Commission and the police administration to ensure peaceful and fair elections but they have completely disregarded the court’s order.
The CPI(M) Belonia Sub-Divisional Committee has demanded re-polling in all the booths of the sub-division stating that they have reported all the violations to the State Election Commission online. The Left leaders have asserted that as a constitutional body the State Election Commission must uphold the High Court’s directives and take appropriate actions against the perpetrators of these election irregularities.
