Deferred Polling Proves Abject Lawlessness

THE Election Commission of India, in the night of April 16th, deferred the polling for Tripura East ST reserved parliamentary constituency scheduled to be held on April 18, to April 23. This decision from the ECI was prompted, as the notification says, by the reports from the CEO, special police observer and the returning officer of the constituency. The notification says, the concerned officials have, based on ground reports and intelligence inputs, expressed apprehensions that the security situation is not conducive for holding a free and fair poll and the miscreants may try to thwart the polling process and the  RO has requested for more central armed forces. 

Hence the Commission deferred the polling so that additional security measures could be taken so that polls could be held on April 23.  The ECI in a separate order removed ADG (law & order) Rajiv Singh from election duties and appointed V S Yadav as the Special DG (law & order).  Singh, it is alleged was instrumental behind keeping the central armed forces completely inactive and invisible on April 11. On the 11th, the day of poll for Tripura West constituency where large scale rigging, false voting, attacks on voters, driving away the CPI(M) polling agents from booths and selective driving away of CPI(M) voters from the queue were reported, the central armed forces were nowhere to be seen. The CEO while informing the press about the decision of the ECI on deferring the poll for Tripura East, said, “We are not satisfied with what happened in West Tripura as well.” 

This sums up the abject lawlessness in Tripura under the BJP rule.

CPI(M) Tripura state secretary Gautam Das said, the decision of the Commission and admission of the CEO that it was not satisfied with the polling in West Tripura seat is a confirmation of our repeated allegations. The removal of ADG (law & order) too vindicates the allegations our general secretary has made that the central armed forces were made to remain inactive on April 11 to facilitate large scale rigging. The Commission should now, if necessary, send additional security forces for East Tripura, so that every polling booth can be given adequate security and central para military forces (CPMF) should be immediately asked to conduct flag marches to instill a sense of confidence among the people that they will be able to exercise their democratic and constitutional right to vote without fear. He reiterated the demand to conduct re-poll in all the 464 booths with the CPMF ensuring security there.

CPI(M) candidate for Tripura East and MP, Jitendra Choudhury said, we hope now in the time available, the Commission will take proper measures to ensure free and fair poll in Tripura East. He said, during the Congress-TUJS regime, assembly elections had to be cancelled by the Commission and that was a blot on the democratic traditions of Tripura. The 13-months of BJP government too have made such a pitiable condition of law and order that election for parliamentary seat had to be deferred.  They have brought shame for Tripura.  Chief minister Biplab Deb should resign immediately taking responsibility for the situation and if he doesn't, he should be removed, he said. 

Mass Sit-in Demands Re-poll in West; Free & Fair Polling in East 

Hours before the ECI decided to defer the polling in East Tripura seat, an impressive mass sit-in programme of the Left Front demanded that the Commission fulfils its constitutional mandate of holding free and fair election in the state.  

The mass sit-in programme continued for three hours and was addressed by leader of opposition, Manik Sarkar, Left Front convener, Bijan Dhar, CPI(M) state secretary, Gautam Das, Left Front candidate for East Tripura seat,  Jitendra Choudhury and other leaders of the  Left Front. 

Manik Sarkar said, election in Tripura shall be an acid test for the ECI whether it is committed to the constitution of India and to protect the people's right to vote. It has to prove it by ordering re-poll in 464 booths of West Tripura and ensuring free and fair poll in the East Tripura ST reserved parliamentary seat. In his appeal to the masses, Manik Sarkar said, “Prepare to take revenge of the loot of votes in West Tripura seat by voting fearlessly in East Tripura seat.  If goons of the ruling party try to threaten you, resist them unitedly and fearlessly. They will not be able to face you. The Commission must ensure that polling agents of East Tripura are allowed to enter the booths, with security inside the booth and after the polling they can go back home safely. Commission must ensure that no voter is threatened, prevented from voting or is attacked. 

Left Front convener, Bijan Dhar said, in today's Tripura, all the democratic rights are suspended. Fearing that people all over India and in Tripura too are getting ready to  oust Modi, BJP here has resorted to mass rigging.  Why they are so afraid of the people?  Why the police has not registered suo moto case against the BJP candidate of Tripura West whose open threat to kill Additional SP of West went viral in the social media? 

Gautam Das said, despite assurances from the Commission, there was no security in the booths, ruling party hoodlums destroyed the webcams and rampantly cast false votes. The people of East Tripura must overcome fear and boldly exercise their right to vote. 

Jitendra Choudhury said, despite all the attacks, we are getting enthusiastic response from the people. The mandate BJP got in the last assembly elections might look huge but its foundations are false and they have made hollow promises. People have started to see through them. That's why the BJP is taking resort to undemocratic and autocratic practices.