Opposition to move Supreme Court if 50% Tripura West booths don't have repolling

AGARTALA

: Both opposition CPM and Congress have separately threatened to move the Supreme Court if the Election Commission does not order fresh polls or repolling in at least 50% of the polling

booths

of Tripura West.


Tripura West went to the polls in the first phase on April 11, amid allegations of violence, rigging and voter intimidation.

Congress has been demanding fresh polls to the constituency, alleging more than 1.5 lakh genuine voters, including about 500 polling staff, could not exercise their franchise due to violence and manipulation of electoral process. CPM initially demanded repolling in 865 booths, but now wants fresh polls as well.

Meanwhile, returning officer of Tripura West Sandeep M Mahatme sent a detailed report on the irregularities and unlawful activities in 433 polling booths out of a total 1,679 that became public and fuelled opposition to seek fresh poll in the constituency.

The EC special observer and former deputy election commissioner Vinod Zutshi along with observers have also scrutinized the entire video footage of the polling booths and sent their report to ECI.

Opposition CPM on Sunday announced it will launch a massive agitation across Tripura West constituency on Monday to press for repolls in the entire constituency on grounds of massive and "proven" poll rigging. The party will organise processions, protest rallies and demonstrations since morning in favour of their demand.

A delegation of the Left Front Saturday evening met chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti and lodged their protest against the inordinate delay on the part of election commission in announcing the decision about Tripura West parliamentary constituency. They reiterated that the party would not sit idle if ECI doesn't take appropriated and logical actions, as entire opposition demanding fresh poll citing the reason of failure of commission to ensure fair poll in West Tripura.

They argued reports of presiding officers, assistant returning officers, returning officers, micro observers and observers had established evidence of large scale irregularities and malpractices but even after 16 days of first phase polls had come off on April 11.

"We initially had demanded repoll in 865 booths but now it seems a repoll in the entire constituency will be required as more than 50% of valid voters could not exercise their right to franchise," LF delegation told media referring their discussion with CEO and added that reportedly ruling BJP has been exerting pressure on commission not to accept the demands of opposition and continuously threatening the officers.

On the other, West Tripura Congress candidate Subal Bhowmik said that as per report of RO the complaint of irregularities were established in the report of polling personnel in as many as 433 booths and in the evidence of opposition parties established unlawful activities including pushing out voters from the polling stations and poll rigging in more than 1300 booths.

"We are ready with all evidence to move the Supreme Court against ECI unless they order fresh poll," Bhowmik said, adding that election in Tripura West has defamed the ECI as well as the people of Tripura, which Congress "will not allow".