Tripura CPM urges EC to probe BJP poll meeting

The Tripura unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has written a letter to the Election Commission (EC), requesting to probe into an "election meeting" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was attended by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.

According to a report, the meeting was held on January 14, at the official residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. BJP in-charge of the North-East, Ram Madhav, senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Krishna Gopal and Doval were present in the meeting.

Tripura CPM secretary Bijan Dhar alleged that engaging the NSA for a political purpose was a violation of norms. He wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), urging the EC to examine the facts and take legal action against those found guilty.

Dhar told reporters, "We have written to the ECI but no FIR has been lodged here. Whether it (the report) is correct you have to investigate impartially and if it is found correct then punish the people who are guilty."

The CPM has alleged that it was a blatant misuse of the administration by the saffron party and the letter claimed that the meeting was convened purely for a political purpose and to evolve the strategy of the BJP for the upcoming assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly Pabitra Kar criticised Doval's role in the meeting, saying that it was very 'dangerous' and an instance of misuse of the administration.