The opposition CPI (M) on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take appropriate steps against the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violators including some state minister in poll bound Boxanagar and Dhanpur assembly constituencies through investigation with an impartial officers and take immediate preventive measures to stop such violations of MCC for the sake of conduct of the bye-elections in free, fair and peaceful manner. 

CPI(M) state secretary and MLA Jitendra Chaudhury in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura , Puneet Agarwal and a copy to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the country sends a news-clipping of 28th August Edition of Kirat Barta carrying a front page first news informing that the Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, BJP Candidate from 20-Boxanagar Md. Tofazaal Hussain and other BJP leaders were addressing a hall meeting of government employees at Manikyanagar under 20-Boxanagar constituency on 27th August 2023.

Chaudhury in his letter said that on 28th August, the Chief Minister Manik Saha himself addressed a meeting of the Madrasa teachers and the Muslim Imams at Kamalnagar under 20-Boxanagar constituency and news  cutting of Ajker Fariad dated 29th August, 2023 has also enclosed with his letter.

Chaudhury in his letter stated that “my simple question to the Election Authority is, whether any candidate of a political party seeking vote in an election can exclusively mobilize and address the government employees urging for vote including those who have been drafted for election duty?  What does the Election Manual say? If not, why should legal proceedings not be drawn against the violators?”

He alleged that on 20th August, the BJP candidates, and leaders organized such meetings with Madrasa teachers, which had been informed to the Commission.

Chaudhury alleged that on 24th August, 2023 BJP leaders directed all Asha Workers of the Sub-Division to attend the BJP meeting at Boxanagar Community Hall and Matingar Community Hall threatening them to be sacked if they don’t turn up. In both the meetings Minister Tinku Roy bribed all Asha workers present there with a Sharee and an envelope of Rs. 1000 each, alleged Chaudhury.

He said in his letter to the CEO that one tribal Minister Bikash Debbarma going to the tribal areas promised the poor tribals to instantly sanction Rubber plantation on submission of the land papers. He was collecting land documents from the villagers promising sanction of Rubber Plantation. Chaudhury has also forwarded the video clip of his claims to the CEO August 24th last.

He alleged that Minister Ratanlal Nath in various places propagated that, after 12 noon on the poll day CPI (M) workers would not be seen in any of the polling booths, thereby signaling provocation to the BJP followers to drive out the opposition polling agents and voters from the polling booths.

“At this juncture, we have valid reasons to apprehend that ruling BJP will desperately try to manipulate the election on  September 5th next, as they did in all elections prior to the 2018 assembly election,” said Chaudhury in his letter.

“By considering the above mentioned circumstances, it is expected that the Election Authority would take appropriate steps against the violators after thorough investigation with an impartial officers and take immediate preventive measures to stop such violations of MCC for the sake of conduct of the bye-elections in free, fair and peaceful manner,” hoped Chaudhury.