By Firstdespatch Desk Jan 21, 2023
Agartala, Jan 21(FD): The opposition Congress and CPI-M today organized a procession at the capital city and chanted slogan- ‘My vote is my right’ and later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao seeking free and fair elections in the state.
The delegation comprising Jitendra Choudhury, CPI(M) state secretary, and Sudip Roy Barman, Congress MLA, highlighted the alleged violence and the peoples' inability to cast their votes in elections in the past five years.
“We have submitted a deputation to the CEO urging him to ensure people's democratic rights in the light of previous elections' experience. All of you know that electors could not cast their votes in the past five years - be it Panchayat or Lok Sabha or by-election”, Choudhury told reporters after the meeting.
He said the CEO has assured the delegation that the poll panel has already initiated a probe into the Majlishpur incident and none will be spared.
Chowdhury said, “We told the CEO the people will be on the streets if the EC fails to conduct free, fair and peaceful polling. We do believe the Commission will take steps so that people can cast their votes according to their will”, he said.
Claiming that democracy will be “under threat” if people were not allowed to vote freely in the election, Roy Barman said they submitted the representation to the CEO on behalf of 40 lakh people of the state.
Former chief minister Manik Sarkar, AICC general secretary Ajay Kumar and TPCC president Birajit Sinha also joined the rally.
Ruling BJP spokesperson, Subrata Chakraborty said the parties which fought against each other for forty years suddenly turned friend for narrow political ends.
“They have prepared a blueprint to destabilise the atmosphere ahead of the Assembly elections. We are closely watching the situation”, he said. FD JK