Opposition CPI (M) has urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India to take appropriate measures to protect the democratic rights of people prior to the Lok Sabha elections and to take steps to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections in Tripura.

CPI(M) state secretary and MLA Jitendra Chaudhury in a letter to the CEC of Election Commission of India (ECI) said that “on 8th March, 2024, while addressing the BJP followers at Agartala Town Hall on the occasion of 1 year completion of the 2nd BJP-IPFT government in Tripura, the declared BJP candidate from 1-Tripura West Parliamentary Constituency, Biplab Kumar Deb, Rajya Sabha Member (Former Chief Minister of Tripura) directed his followers to ensure limit of the opposition votes in aggregate as well as in all the Assembly segments. He directed that the opposition votes in each of the Assembly segments should not exceed 3000 and in total it must not cross one lakh. This direction of Sri Deb attracted high applause in the entire hall.”

Chaudhury in his letter alleged that during the Assembly election campaign in 2018 at Teliamura, Khowai District, Deb made such objectionable comments detrimental to the democratic norms, that whichever button any electors would press on, it would ultimately go in favour of the lotus symbol. Under the BJP regime in the last 6 years all the elections including that of local body elections in the state turned out to be totally farce.

He said that ‘being inspired by the provocations made by Deb, yesterday, on 9th March, 2024, some BJP Juba Morcha workers of Takarjala Mandal, West Tripura, broke open the CPI(M) office at Salka Chowmuhani, Khumulwng, Jirania Sub-Division in broad daylight and occupied it for using this office for the purpose of ensuing Lok Sabha election. They hoisted many BJP flags in the office and surrounding area.’ He said that this CPI (M) Local committee office was closed for a long time due to the severe nature of terror.

Chaudhury in his letter has also attached some news cuttings of local newspapers and said that all the opposition political parties, the democratic-minded people of the state are in apprehension that, if proactive preventive measures are not taken against such provocation in advance, this political highhandedness on behalf of the ruling BJP would spearhead in near future and ultimately that 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,” urged Chaudhury.