Tripura civic polls: CPI(M) alleges forced pullouts, wants Ambassa RO out

The CPI(M) on Monday accused the ruling BJP of using intimidation, including firearms, to force opposition candidates to pull out of Tripura's November 27 urban local body elections, and asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to step in before the withdrawal deadline on Tuesday, November 10.

In a letter to State Election Commissioner P K Chakravarti, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Choudhury set out a series of allegations. NEInsider could not independently verify them, and there was no immediate response from the BJP.

The Ambassa case

According to the letter, a group of armed BJP supporters went to the home of Sujit Ghosh, the party's candidate for Ward No. 9 of the Ambassa Municipal Council, on Monday and took him to the returning officer's (RO) office, where he was made to sign a withdrawal notice.

The CPI(M) says the RO accepted the withdrawal even though Monday was a public holiday. Citing Rule 11(c)(1) of the Tripura Municipalities (Conduct of Election) Rules, 1995, it argues that the last date for withdrawal falls two days after scrutiny, or on the next working day if that date is a holiday, and that the acceptance therefore broke the prescribed procedure.

The party has demanded that the Ambassa RO be replaced immediately and face disciplinary action.

Threats in Belonia

The letter also alleges that 15 to 20 BJP supporters went to the homes of CPI(M) candidates in Wards 5, 6 and 17 of the Belonia Municipal Council and warned them of consequences if they did not withdraw.

Choudhury referred to the killing of Badal Shil during the 2024 panchayat elections, alleging he was murdered because he contested a Zilla Parishad seat as a CPI(M) candidate, and repeated the party's earlier complaint that its nominees were obstructed while filing papers in five urban bodies.

What the party wants from the SEC

The CPI(M) has asked the Commission to:

• refuse withdrawal applications from opposition candidates who arrive accompanied by BJP supporters, and accept them only when the candidate comes with leaders of their own party;
• provide security at opposition candidates' homes, especially on November 10;
• act against the Ambassa returning officer.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary.

Context

Opposition parties have alleged obstruction and violence since nominations opened for the civic polls. The BJP is already set to win a number of seats unopposed, and 859 candidates cleared scrutiny with 49 papers rejected. Votes will be cast on November 27.