All party meet for Panchayat polls: Oppositions demand for online submission of nomination

The opposition INDIA Bloc including CPI(M) and Congress has demanded  deployment of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) in the entire process of three-tier Panchayat elections during an all party meeting on Thursday conducted by State Election Commissioner (SEC).

The all party meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat, where senior leaders of CPI(M) and Congress along with other state parties were also present.

During the meeting, opposition CPI (M) delegation led by the party's state committee members Haripada Das and Rakhal Majumder urged the SEC to give online facilities to all parties for filling their nomination papers.

But, SEC citing rules of personal appearance during the filling the nomination papers for Panchayat elections have been ruled out.

CPI(M) also highlighted attacks on their party supporters in different parts of the state and miking some miscreants owing to the ruling alliance in some villages of North Tripura district and threatening of their party supporters to keep away from participation in coming Panchayat elections.

SEC sources said that the representative of Congress demanded for provision for online submission of nomination papers by their candidates and no contractual employees to be engaged for election duties, installation of CCTV in all polling stations, micro observers from central government for each polling station. Congress also demanded for personal security guards for each candidate of Zilla Parishad.

CPI (M) urged the SEC to take necessary steps against some untoward incidents, designated counters for receiving nomination papers in SDM and DM offices.

The ruling BJP assured that they will take all necessary steps for conducting free and fair elections.

Meanwhile, SEC sources said that as per the existing rule, there is no scope to arrange for submission of nomination through online.