Agartala, Sep 28:
CPI(M) veteran tribal leader and former Chief Executive Member of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Radhacharan Debbarma on Monday alleged that his party’s candidates and polling agents were being prevented from entering polling stations during the Village Committee elections, raising concerns over the conduct of the electoral process.
After casting his vote at a polling station in Mandwi, Debbarma alleged that a CPI(M) candidate, his agent and other party representatives were not allowed to enter a polling station at Khamting village, where polling was under way in a single seat.
“They are standing outside. We are trying to contact the authorities,” Debbarma said, alleging that similar incidents had been reported from other places in the Mandwi block.
He also alleged that opposition parties had faced difficulties from the nomination filing stage, followed by pressure during the withdrawal process.
“People are already losing faith in the electoral process,” Debbarma said, adding that the relatively small number of voters in Village Committee constituencies made it particularly important that candidates and agents be allowed to participate in the process without obstruction.
Referring to reports of lines of voters at polling stations, he said people were nevertheless coming out to exercise their franchise, but alleged that incidents involving candidates and agents could undermine public confidence in the elections.
On security arrangements, Debbarma said the presence of security personnel itself was not the issue, but alleged that the manner in which security forces were deployed and used was important.
“If security is there but it is not used properly, what is the point of having security?” he said.
Polling for the Village Committee elections under the TTAADC began at 7 am on Monday amid tight security across the tribal areas and will continue until 4 pm.
The elections are being held after a gap of about 10 years following intervention by the Supreme Court. Polling is taking place in 2,954 contested seats across 44 blocks in all eight districts.
Around 7,200 government personnel have been deployed as polling staff, while more than 15,000 security personnel, including around 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, have been mobilised for the elections.
The State Election Commission had notified elections for 4,597 seats in 587 Village Committees. Following withdrawals, 9,820 candidates remained in the fray for the contested seats. The Tipra Motha Party secured 1,557 seats uncontested, while the BJP won 81 seats without a contest.
The Village Committees perform local governance functions in areas under the TTAADC, which has been governed by the Tipra Motha since 2021.
The TTAADC, established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in 1985, covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s geographical area and has 30 members, including 28 elected and two nominated members.
