Tripura civic polls: Left says nominees blocked in Khowai, meets West DM

The dispute over opposition nominations in Tripura's urban local body elections spread to Khowai on Monday, with the CPI(M) saying 15 Left Front candidates for the Khowai Municipal Council could not file their papers, Tripurainfo reported.

In Agartala, a CPI(M) delegation met the West Tripura District Magistrate to seek security for its candidates in three nagar panchayats near the capital. The allegations come from the Left Front; there was no response from the police or the BJP in the reports.

What happened in Khowai

According to the report, the 15 candidates, one for each ward contested, set out in a procession at around noon towards the returning officer's office, accompanied by supporters and Khowai MLA Nirmal Biswas of the CPI(M).

Police deployed along the road stopped the procession and advised the group to use another road instead of the main route to the office. The candidates and leaders refused, objecting that the police were failing in their duty to clear the way, and went back without filing.

Biswas accused the police of acting in a partisan manner and alleged that BJP-backed people had been obstructing Left candidates for two days. He claimed similar incidents had already taken place in Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur and Kamalpur. He said the candidates would keep trying to file, and party sources said the local unit would consult the state leadership and attempt again on Monday or Tuesday.

Deputation to the West Tripura DM

Separately, former minister Manik Dey, CITU state secretary and former MP Sankar Prasad Datta, and Tapan Das of Jirania met District Magistrate (West) Vishal Kumar. They told him that party candidates were being prevented from filing papers in the 11 wards of the Jirania Nagar Panchayat and in the Ranirbazar and Mohanpur nagar panchayats, and asked for adequate security.

The DM reportedly assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the police and the returning officers concerned. The CPI(M) also said it would take its candidates for all 51 wards of the Agartala Municipal Corporation to file nominations in processions.

How we got here

Polling for all 21 urban local bodies is on November 27, with counting on December 2. Nominations close on November 6, scrutiny is on November 7 and the last date for withdrawal is November 10, according to the State Election Commission.

On October 31, the first day of nominations, the CPI(M) said five of its people, including a candidate, were attacked in Kamalpur in Dhalai district. Police later held flag marches in Kamalpur, Teliamura and Khowai, and Chief Minister Manik Saha condemned the violence. The ruling BJP and Tipra Motha are contesting together under the NDA banner.

What next

With four days left for nominations, the Left Front's ability to field candidates in all wards will be closely watched. NEInsider will update this report if the police, the State Election Commission or the BJP respond to the allegations.