Tripura: CPI(M) Protests ‘Violence, Intimidation’ Ahead of Panchayat Polls on Aug 8

Kolkata/Agartala: Tripura, ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, has been witnessing unprecedented violence to ward off Opposition candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections on August 8, the Left-Congress alliance has alleged.

It may be recalled in the last panchayat elections held in the Northeastern state in 2019, a record 96% BJP candidates had won unopposed , after the Left-Congress candidates complained that they could not field candidates.

This year, despite assurances of free and fair elections by the state election commissioner, supporters of the ruling BJP reportedly have cordoned off some block offices where nominations are to be filed. Left-Congress sources said that repeated attempts by them requesting help from the state police were not being heeded.

On July 13,  CPI(M) zilla parishad candidate Badal Shil in South Tripura seat was “hacked to death”, allegedly by BJP ‘goondas’.

In Dukli, Nalchar Block, CPI(M) candidates alleged an attack on a rally to submit nominations being led by party state secretary Jitendra Choudhury.

In Tepania, Congress members were attacked by “BJP hooligans”, injuring party MLA Sudip Roy Burman. In Dukli, former CPI(M) MP Jharna Das Baidya was injured along with party comrades, the party alleged, adding that in  Hrisyamukh, party activists were thrown out of the  block offices.

In Kumarghat, there was resistance when documents of CPI(M) candidates were “snatched within the BDO office” by BJP supporters. There have been several instances of resistance to violence, as per Left-Congress sources.

In the zilla parishad, there are 116 seats in eight districts. Opposition candidates are in the fray in about 100 seats.

In Unakoti and Chandipur block in North Tripura, the Left-Congress alliance, part of the INDIA bloc, were able to file nominations with a large number of followers in tow .

“Scores of leaders and workers of the Party have been injured and hospitalised consequent to these brutal attacks. Opposition leaders were forcibly prevented from participating in all-party meetings called by election officials at various places; BJP leaders have threatened to kill any opposition candidate trying to submit nomination; vehicles carrying opposition leaders have been attacked in the presence of police personnel…”, a statement by the Communist party of India (Marxist) polit bureau said.

The party condemned the “anarchical situation” in Tripura, saying that “ever since the announcement of the date of the elections to the local bodies, the CPI(M) and opposition candidates and their supporters have been under relentless attacks by goons owing allegiance to the ruling party.”

Ever since the BJP won the elections to the state assembly it has single-mindedly pursued its agenda of annihilating the opposition in the state. In these murderous attacks launched since 2018, 30 members and workers or the Party have been killed.

Demanding adequate measures to ensure that all candidates are able to file nominations and the elections are held in a free and fair manner, the CPI(M) said “these intimidatory tactics have led to the creation of an atmosphere of terror in the entire state casting aspersions on the free and fair conduct of the elections”.

The Assembly elections in Tripura held in February 2023 were also marked by sporadic violence, even though the percentage of voters who cast their votes was high at 87.63%.

However, supporters and activists of the opposition CPI(M) had claimed then too that their polling agents were threatened. Violence was reported in several places, such as Dhanpur, Mohanpur, Khayerpur, Majlishpur, Suryamaninagar, Radhakishorepur, Kakrabon, Hrishyamukh, and Amarpur.

Meanwhile, the Congress has said it would raise the issue of Tripura violence in Parliament in the upcoming Budget session, saying it would not “let Tripura turn into another Manipur”.