Agartala: Tripura’s principal Opposition party, CPIM, wrote to the State Election Commissioner (SEC), demanding strict action against BJP workers who allegedly threatened violence against candidates contesting under CPIM or Congress tickets in the upcoming Panchayat elections.
In a letter addressed to SEC Saradindu Chowdhury, CPIM state committee secretary Jitendra Chaudhury detailed an incident that occurred on June 29. According to Chaudhury, a convoy of 10-12 vehicles, led by BJP leader Subrata Rudrapaul, toured several villages in Dharmanagar, North District.
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The convoy visited villages such as Sakaibari, Baruakandi, Chandrapur, and Raghna, where they openly threatened over loudspeakers that anyone daring to contest in the Panchayat elections from the CPIM or Congress would be “throttled to death.”
Chaudhury expressed shock and disbelief at such open threats against democratic processes occurring without any preventive action from the police or administrative authorities.
He emphasized that this incident validated the concerns previously raised by CPIM, particularly in a memorandum submitted on June 24 by a party delegation led by Manik Dey. Chaudhury called this an open challenge to the independent authority of the SEC.
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Highlighting the ruling party’s responsibility to ensure free and fair elections, Chaudhury criticized the BJP for acting as a barrier to democracy in the state. He urged the SEC to exercise its independent authority to ensure a fair electoral process.
Furthermore, Chaudhury, who also serves as the Leader of the Opposition, demanded immediate action from the SEC. He called for the arrest of Subrata Rudrapaul and his associates, who issued the threats, and the seizure of all vehicles involved in the convoy. He also insisted that the owners of these vehicles be legally prosecuted.
In his letter, Chaudhury emphasized the need for decisive action to uphold democratic principles and ensure a fair election process in Tripura.