A DELEGATION of the CPI(M) led by Sitaram Yechury, general secretary, consisting of  Nilotpal Basu, Polit Bureau member and Shankar Prasad Datta, CPI(M) candidate for the  West Tripura parliamentary constituency met chief election commissioner on April 15. The delegation submitted two memorandums – one demanding re-poll in 464 booths in West Tripura constituency and conducting of free and fair election in East Tripura parliamentary constituency and the other pertaining to the issue of violation of the model code of conduct and conducting of free and fair elections in West Bengal. 

The memorandum underlined the gross irregularities and to a large extent undermining of the process of free and fair polls held on April 11 for the 1-Tripura West parliamentary constituency.

Copies of detailed communications with the Commission flagging the nature of irregularities that could affect normal polling, were attached along with the memorandum. However, all these forewarnings have gone begging. “The agreement reached on March 6 in our meeting with the full Commission on deployment of the central forces for security of the booths and for the opposition polling agents and route marches for instilling a sense of confidence among the common voters have remained conspicuous in its non-implementation on the ground. Even the security of the two CPI(M) candidates could not be ensured,” the memorandum noted.

A set of annexures were attached to the memorandum which included representation from the CPI(M) candidate for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency, Shankar Prasad Datta. A large number of statements by polling agents who were appointed by the chief electoral agent for Shankar Prasad Datta to the effect that they were forcibly disallowed from performing their legally ordained responsibility, were also attached. Reports are also there that in a large number of booths, the facility for CCTV coverage and live video streaming were disabled to wipe out the evidence of the large scale hooliganism and wrongdoing.

But, above all, what was on evidence on April 11 was a complete absence of central para-military forces to ensure the conduct of a free and fair poll. Therefore, the CPI(M) delegation has strongly urged that the Commission conduct re-poll for the 464 booths in which the elections were completely rigged, the specific booth numbers and assembly constituency segments had been already made available for the Commission.

The candidate Shankar Prasad Datta had already demanded the video recordings of large number of booths which will conclusively establish the nature and extent of wrongdoings. But, for these corrective measures, we will be inclined to infer that the assurances given to us by the Election Commission of India for conducting free and fair polls in the state, which in any case is the constitutional responsibility under Article 324 of the Constitution. We would further infer that through its non-action the Commission has been active to facilitate this wrongdoing by the ruling party and its goons.

In the light of what had happened on April 11, we are attaching herewith a number of representations from Jitendra Choudhary, the CPI(M) candidate for 2-Tripura East parliamentary constituency with very specific suggestions. He has already cautioned the central police observers and the returning officer on these measurers which needs to be undertaken. These include:

1. Massive patrolling may be conducted in all sensitive polling station areas till the evening of April 17 as confidence building measures for the voters.

2. All FIR named persons, who are involved in the pre-poll violence should immediately be arrested and detained till the process of the election is over.

3. All polling stations under the constituency should be manned by central forces only and minimum strength should not be not less than seven.

4. More than three patrolling vehicles manned by central forces should be deployed in all sensitive sectors.

5. In no case, unauthorised persons and voters concerned in the queue should be allowed to enter into the polling stations, which has happened rampantly in many booths on April 11.

6. The flying squads of ECI and patrolling vehicles should ensure safe reporting and return of the polling agents of the contesting candidates, wherever asked for.

7. No outsiders, if not voter of that particular booth or who had already cast his/her vote, should be allowed to enter the cordoned areas of the polling stations.

8. To check the movement of more than two motor cycles together and totally banning outsiders after 5.00 pm.

The CPI(M) delegation has urged the Election Commission of India to protect the parliamentary democracy enshrined in our constitution. The people of Tripura and that of the country fervently hope that independent role of the Election Commission of India should not get discredited.

In the memorandum related to West Bengal, it was brought to the notice of the EC that in West Bengal there is an acute deficit of trust in public perception about the impartiality of the state administration in the conduct of free and fair polls. In order to further underline the seriousness of the question, the memorandum drew the attention of the EC to the fact that large number of officials who were allotted polling duty had collectively aired their concern for their own safety and security and insisted on the presence of central security forces for ensuring this. It assumed the proportion of near rebellion which could be finally contained by specific written assurance from chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state.

However, the actual experience of holding election on April 11 for the two constituencies of Alipurduar ST and Coochbehar belied the hope that the common voters had invested in the Election Commission of India (ECI). Again, as in the case of Tripura, the conspicuous absence of the central security forces, both in creating a sense of confidence and ensuring free and fair polls on the polling day was largely visible.

Therefore, a set of documents which contain information on some of the compelling concerns, were attached with the memorandum. The specific issues that need to be drawn attention to, are the instances of attacks on the security and opportunity of trouble free campaigning of at least four CPI(M) and Left candidates, Gauranga Chatterjee in Asansol parliamentary constituency, Dr Faud Halim in Diamond Harbour, Pallab Sengupta in Basirhat, and Dr Rizawul Kareem in Birbhoom. In all these cases, surprisingly, the security for the candidates was not to be seen, neither was the facility of videography of the campaign trial of the candidate in evidence.

The CPI(M) had already brought to the notice of the chief electoral officer (CEO) of West Bengal that contractual employees who are largely dependent on the whims and fancies of the state ruling party ought not to be deployed for polling duty. Unfortunately, this has also not been taken cognizance of. As part of the annexures, details were furnished of a large number of booths in Raiganj PC which need special attention and manning by the central forces for the sake of holding free and fair poll.

Finally, similar to the complaint that the CPI(M) had to launch on the biopic of Narendra Modi, attention was also drawn to the unlawful circulation of the trailer of the biopic of Mamata Banerjee, chief of the All India Trinamool Congress and chief minister of West Bengal in a flagrant violation of model code of conduct.

The delegation hoped that the commission will act on these issues with the urgency they demand.

Curb Obnoxious Activities of BJP Hoodlums

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Nilotpal Basu, has written to the chief election commissioner, Election Commission of India on April 17, regarding the obnoxious activities of the hoodlums associated with the ruling BJP in Tripura while reiterating the demand for re-poll in 464 booths which were rigged on April 11. 

Basu first thanked the CEC for recognising the grave situation of law and order prevailing in Tripura and hoped that the steps that have been initiated will ensure a free and fair poll in the Tripura East (ST) parliamentary constituency which is now going to be held on April 23.

Meanwhile, the obnoxious activities of the hoodlums associated with the ruling BJP in the state continue. Basu forwarded two letters addressed to the CEC by the CPI(M) Tripura state committee. As part of the annexure, a report was also attached which was published by the Indian Express to the effect that threats to citizens who support the CPI(M) and the Left are served with chilling imageries.

He also reiterated the Party’s request to the CEC to accede to its demand of holding re-poll in the 464 polling booths of Tripura West parliamentary constituency held on April 11. “Now that, the premise on which we had made this demand initially, stands recognised by you, we hope that your decision would lead to its logical culmination,” Basu wrote.