Agartala, September 8:
The BJP-led ruling alliance in Tripura faces fresh political embarrassment ahead of the September 28 Village Committee elections after IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma, a senior leader of an NDA ally, alleged that he was attacked by miscreants of ally Tipra Motha party near the Hezamara Block office on Tuesday.
The allegation assumes significance because the IPFT is part of the ruling alliance along with the BJP and TIPRA Motha, which have recently announced their decision to jointly contest the Village Committee elections. Tuesday is the last day for filing nominations.
While Opposition parties have already accused the ruling establishment and its allies of creating an atmosphere of intimidation during the nomination process, the latest allegation has come from within the ruling alliance itself.
Debbarma alleged that the attackers targeted him after he identified himself as the IPFT general secretary, and questioned how such an attack could take place when BJP, TIPRA Motha and IPFT are alliance partners.
Speaking to reporters at GBP Hospital in Agartala, where he was brought for treatment, Debbarma said he had not gone to submit any nomination rather was travelling home after sending a letter through his driver to the Returning Officer at Hezamara. According to him, his vehicle was suddenly attacked near the block premises and damaged.
The IPFT general secretary said his driver alerted police personnel stationed nearby, who subsequently intervened.
Debbarma claimed that four or five persons were involved and alleged that one of them picked up a stick and assaulted him. He said the attackers became more aggressive after he identified himself as the IPFT general secretary.
The allegation has triggered a sharp reaction from IPFT leader and Minister Suklal Charan Noatia, who visited the injured leader at GBP Hospital.
Noatia alleged that Debbarma was attacked after reaching the Hezamara Block area and claimed that he was pulled out of his vehicle and severely assaulted.
He said Debbarma suffered serious injuries and was first taken to Hezamara Primary Health Centre, then to Mohanpur Sub-Divisional Hospital, before being referred to GBP Hospital.
The Minister also raised a broader concern over the electoral environment, alleging that reports had emerged of candidates being prevented from entering several block offices to submit nominations.
“We cannot accept a situation where political parties are prevented from contesting elections,” Noatia said, calling such acts an attempt to undermine democracy.
He appealed to the Chief Minister, police administration and State Election Commission to ensure law and order and a peaceful election.
Noatia said the IPFT had already written to the Director General of Police and the State Election Commission regarding the reported incidents and indicated that the party’s state committee would discuss the attack and decide its further course of action.
The development places the BJP–TIPRA Motha–IPFT arrangement under renewed political scrutiny. The alliance had been projected as a united front for the Village Committee elections, but an allegation of violence by one alliance partner’s general secretary against another constituent of the same alliance could expose fresh fault lines just hours before the nomination process closes.
