AS will appear in the same issue separately, a delegation comprising of CPI(M) and CPI leadership met the  Election Commission of India on March 25. In their submission to the ECI the Left leaders have reiterated their apprehensions regarding a free and fair election in Tripura which is scheduled to be held in two phases on April 11 and 18. 

As we go to press the process of scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency will be over. As the election progresses it will become clear whether the opposition parties of the state whose presence is so vital for democracy shall be allowed to campaign. Also important is to ensure that the people, the voters who are central to any election shall be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote in an atmosphere free from fear, intimidation and terror. 

The apprehensions of course are not baseless.  In these columns earlier, we have dealt in detail how in the one year of BJP -IPFT rule democracy has been murdered time and again,  how in the by elections to three tier panchayats and urban local bodies the ruling party had captured almost all the seats by not allowing the opposition to contest.

The ruling BJP is creating obstacles in campaigning for the opposition parties especially CPI(M) which includes physical attack on the candidate himself. On March 24, in a single day the convoy of the CPI(M) candidate Sankar Prasad Datta was attacked thrice in Mohanpur of Jirania,  Bishramganj and Bishalgarh.  In Jirania, stones were pelted on the car of the candidate while he with state secretariat members Manik Dey and Radhacharan Debbarma were en route to reopen the Jirania subdivision committee office of CPI(M) . The BJP hoodlums tried to abduct CPI(M) district committee member Kanak Naha and Bishramganj LC secretary Palash Debbarma. In Bishalgarh stones were pelted on the convoy.  Glasses of the vehicle carrying MLA and Sipahijala district committee secretary Bhanulal Saha were broken. Vehicle used by CPI(M) Bishalgarh subdivision committee secretary Siddiqur Rahman was heavily damaged. Another car was burnt down. 

Similarly obstacles are being created in the campaigning of Jitendra Choudhury,  CPI(M) candidate for East Tripura (ST) reserved seat.  On  March 23, Jitendra Choudhury with others reopened the Kamalapur subdivision committee office after a gap of more than one year. But BJP hoodlums created obstacles in the public meeting and disturbed it while police remained a mute spectator.  Houses of a number of CPI(M) leaders including subdivision committee secretary Anjan Das, Manikbhandar local committee secretary Premananda Dhar were attacked. Fish from ponds were looted; sweet shops were ransacked as the owners participated in Jitendra Choudhury's meeting. In Sabroom of East Tripura seat, a local committee office of CPI(M) at Kalibazar was vandalised. In none of the above incidents any of the BJP hoodlums have been arrested despite specific complaints was lodged. 

CPI(M) state secretary Gautam Das in his  reaction said,  there is no atmosphere for a free and fair poll in the state. We had time and again demanded to the ECI and the CEO(chief electoral officer) of the state that election should be held in a terror free atmosphere. We have specifically demanded that the ECI must ensure that voters are allowed to vote in a fear free atmosphere, all the candidates are allowed to campaign freely. But despite our repeated demands, the hooligans of BJP are continuing their rampage and attacks without any restrictions. 

The Left Front convener Bijan Dhar,  in a  meet the press said, the ruling party knows for sure that if the elections remain peaceful and the people get a  chance to vote,  the LF will retain both the seats. The onus of keeping the promise of a free, air and peaceful election lies with the ECI.