CPI-M urge Tripura DGP for protection of Left civic poll

Opposition CPI-M urged the Tripura director general of police Wednesday to arrange for protection of the Left candidates ahead of the December 22 election in 10 municipalities and alleged that the poll may be rigged by ruling BJP supporters.

The notification for the election to the civic bodies was made by Tripura State Election Commission on November 26 and the filing of nominations for it began the same day.

A four-member delegation of CPI-M, led by Deputy Leader of opposition Badal Chowdhury met Director General of Police (DGP) A K Shukla Wednesday and alleged that the situation was not conducive for smooth and peaceful elections in the state.

The other members of the delegation included Jitendra Chowdhury, MP, Manik Dey and Narayan Kar, the two state committee members of CPI-M.

The delegation in their memorandum also alleged that workers of the ruling BJP have already started threatening and intimidating the prospective Left candidates to force them to abstain from filing nominations.

"They (BJP workers) have even set up camps near the offices of the returning officers so that no opposition party candidates can file nomination papers", the memorandum, a copy of which was made available to the press, said.

The CPI-M delegation requested the DGP to take strong security measures so that the opposition party candidates could file their nominations in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere.

They also demanded protection for the Left candidates and their houses.

The CPI-M leaders later told a press conference that an "unprecedented reign of terror was let loose by the BJP members and their supporters after they assumed power on March 9 last.

Along with the election to the 10 municipalities, by-elections will also be held for vacant seats in five other urban local bodies including the Agartala Municipal Corporation on December 22, the notification said.

Ballot papers would be used in the municipal election and the by-election instead of EVMs as the Election Commission has declined to give EVMs for the polls, election office sources said.

As per the notification the last date of filing of nomination is December 4, the date for scrutiny is December 5 and for withdrawal December 7.

The counting of votes would be held on December 26, it said.