By Firstdespatch Desk Sep 07, 2023
Agartala, Sep 7 (FD) Angry with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for not responding to the demand for re-polling in the Dhanpur and Boxanagar constituencies in Sepahijala district of Tripura, the opposition Left Front has decided to boycott the counting of results tomorrow.
They had demanded for a complete re-poll in the constituencies to the ECI allegedly for large scale rigging by the ruling BJP supporters on the day of elections held on Sept 5 last.
The Left Front Convener and former CPI-M MP alleged that the by-elections for the two constituencies were "farcical exercise" and despite demanding complete re-poll in those constituencies the ECI has not responded to their demand.
“Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had taken control of the whole administration and election machinery in Sonamura subdivision, where these constituencies are located, since the final deadline for nominations on August 17. Everything was intimated to the ECI on the day of elections, but they did not pay heed to our demands. So, we decided to boycott the counting”, he told reporters.
Earlier, the front demanded arrest of Minister Bikash Debbarma, who allegedly led the rigging and also demanded immediate suspension of the Superintendent of Police (Sepahijala) and other poll officials.
According to Kar, the BJP sheltered goons had created a reign of terror to create a fear psychosis in the constituencies and specifically threatened CPI-M workers.
Furthermore, Kar stated that during the recent election, even the CPI (M) candidate in Boxanagar, Mizan Hossain, had to remain confined at home due to safety concerns. The Left Front was only able to place polling agents in approximately 60% of the total 110 polling booths across both constituencies.
Kar pointed out that in the previous assembly polls held in February, 63% of voters did not cast their ballots in favour of the BJP. With no significant effort by the ruling party to increase their vote share over the past six months, the Left Front alleges that the BJP resorted to widespread rigging and malpractices. FD JK