The opposition CPI(M) has raised serious concerns over the transparency of the upcoming Urban Local Body elections, urging the State Election Commission (SEC) to reconsider its decision to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) without Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) facilities and demanding action against a BJP MLA over his alleged inflammatory remarks targeting the tribal community.

In two separate letters to State Election Commissioner (SEC) PK Chakravarti, CPI(M) state secretary and leader of opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury highlighted the issues, seeking the Commission's intervention to ensure a transparent electoral process and strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

In the first letter, Chaudhury expressed surprise over the SEC's decision to conduct the civic elections without VVPAT facilities, arguing that the system is an important safeguard for ensuring transparency and addressing concerns over the reliability of EVMs.

He pointed out that instances of mismatches and incorrect results had reportedly been detected during EVM commissioning in previous elections. The combined functioning of the Control Unit, Ballot Unit and VVPAT, he argued, provides an additional layer of credibility to the electoral process.

Referring to the nationwide debate over the reliability and possible manipulation of EVMs, Chaudhury termed the decision to dispense with VVPAT unfortunate, particularly as political parties had reportedly not been consulted.

He claimed that had the parties been given an opportunity to express their views on the use of EVMs without VVPAT or the traditional ballot paper system, most would have preferred the latter. He urged the SEC to reconsider its decision and convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

In the second letter, the CPI(M) leader demanded an FIR against BJP MLA and Boxanagar legislator Tafajjal Hussain over his alleged derogatory and inflammatory remarks against the tribal community at an election meeting in Tamsabari, Ward No. 12 of Sonamura Municipal Council, on November 11.

According to the letter, Hussain allegedly made objectionable comments comparing members of the tribal community with pigs while referring to their food habits and lifestyle.

Chaudhury alleged that the remarks, which subsequently went viral on social media, had hurt tribal sentiments and could provoke ethnic tensions, undermining the traditional relationship between tribal and non-tribal communities in Tripura.

He claimed that the speech violated Clause 1 of Part I (General Conduct) of the Model Code of Conduct enforced for the civic elections, announced on October 30.

Questioning the alleged lack of action by the authorities despite multiple FIRs reportedly lodged against the MLA, Chaudhury urged the State Election Commissioner to direct the concerned police station to register an FIR over the alleged hate speech and violation of the MCC.

A compact disc containing the recorded speech was also enclosed with the letter submitted to the Election Commission.