Accusing ruling Left Front government in Tripura of using money and muscle before the Assembly election, a three-member BJP delegation on Thursday called on Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi and requested to take strong steps to avert any kind of violence.
“The pattern and the history of elections over the past several years in the state of Tripura suggest that CPI-M had indulged in mass scale rigging and has subverted with impunity, the electoral processes by spreading falsehoods, rumours, intimidating voters, unleashing violence before, during and after the polls,” the delegation of Nalin Kohli, Om Pathak and KJ Alphons said.
They have also submitted a memorandum to the election commission. In the memorandum the BJP has highlighted some incidents of violence which were allegedly carried by the Left Front goons and their part workers.
In its memorandum, the saffron brigade suggested eight points to maintain peace and normalcy before and after the election in Tripura.
The memorandum said general and police observers must be visible and more effective in handling of complaints and providing immediate and instant relief.
The task of deploying the CAPF must rest with the police observer in consultation with the general observer and strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission. They may be provided extra neutral help, if need be, from other states in accomplishing the effective police deployment of CAPF. The two observers must be held directly responsible, on behalf of the commission, to ensure free & fair elections, the memorandum said.
“Searches to eliminate the possible use of illegal or legal weapons, storage of other ammunition or contrabands be intensified. Very effective surveillance by observers, micro observers and police observers and personnel be ensured so no intimidation of voters is attempted by the CPI-M in Tripura state,” BJP said.
It has also suggested for appointment of a special observer to investigate into the postal ballot fiasco and arrange to ensure that every eligible election official is allowed to cast the ballot.
“Installation of CCTV facility in critical and vulnerable polling stations must be functional and no interference with the continuous recording be allowed. In case of any interference, polls in the polling station be annulled,” it said.
The saffron brigade in its memorandum also suggested sealing the international borders so that no infiltration takes place from across the border. “Special deployment of CAPF or other forces be ensured in the remote areas, as most of the polling stations in these areas are critical or vulnerable,” BJP in its memorandum pointed out.
