Tripura CPM moves ECI against BJP's LS nominee Biplab Kumar Deb

AGARTALA: Tripura's CPM lodged a complaint with the election commission of India against West Tripura's BJP candidate and Rajya Sabha MP, Biplab Kumar, on Monday. They alleged that Chief Minister Deb directed his party cadres to ensure that opposition votes in each of the assembly segments should not exceed 3000, and in total, it must not cross one lakh during a public meeting.

CPI-M State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury wrote to the ECI stating that Deb has continuously instigated his cadres in all the rallies and meetings since being named as a Lok Sabha candidate, indulging in preventing opposition voters from casting their votes, which indicates that the election would not be peaceful and fair.

Chaudhury alleged that in the last six years, all the elections held during Deb's tenure as CM, including the local body elections in Tripura, turned out to be farcical, and people's choices were suppressed under security cordon. There was massive violence and terror against those who opposed his autocratic and undemocratic activities, and after returning to the state, he resorted to his old ways.

He further alleged that after Biplab’s speech on March 9, some BJP Yuba Morcha workers in the Takarjala area of Sepahijala district broke open the CPI(M) office at Salka Chowmuhani in Jirania in broad daylight on Sunday and occupied it with saffron flags. Opposition political parties and democratic-minded people of the state fear that unless proactive preventive measures are taken against such provocations, there will be no fair election, Chaudhury emphasized.

“The highhandedness of the ruling BJP would spearhead and ultimately it would invite chaotic electoral atmosphere in the state. Under this situation, I fervently request you to take appropriate measures that you deem fit for conduct of free, fair and peaceful manner,” Chaudhury mentioned in the letter to ECI.

Speaking to the media later, Chaudhury pointed out that since Deb’s candidacy announcement, anti-social elements and motorbike gangs under various names have become active across Tripura and resorted to terror tactics. Despite the deployment of security forces, such elements have been openly threatening opposition supporters and disturbing the political activities of the opposition.

“After removal of Deb from Chief Minister, law and order situation of the state has improved significantly and opposition parties have got space for their democratic activities. Even in the last assembly elections under Dr Manik Saha, the electoral process was almost peaceful and violence free but now again the situation is getting hostile,” added Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee President and West Tripura candidate Ashis Kumar Saha.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee dismissed the allegations of CPM and Congress, saying, "The opposition, apprehensive of their fate in the election, is misinterpreting the statement and facts. People of the state are happy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the performance of the BJP-led government, which will be reflected in the EVMs."

However, Deb was not available for comment on the controversy.