Agartala, Nov 6 : Senior CPI(M) leader and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Friday questioned the State Election Commission’s assertion that allegations of opposition candidates being prevented from filing nominations at five locations were baseless, citing a High Court directive on Friday asking the Commission to ensure adequate security for candidates to submit their papers without intimidation.
Reacting to State Election Commissioner Dr Pradip Kumar Chakraborty’s remarks, Sarkar during a press conference at the CPI(M) headquarters in Agartal said the opposition had approached the concerned election officials and district magistrates over the alleged obstruction but was compelled to move the High Court as the situation remained unresolved.
He said the High Court had directed the Election Commission to make appropriate security arrangements at all five locations and ensure that opposition candidates could file their nominations without fear or hindrance. The matter had also been brought to the notice of the Director General of Police, he added.
Questioning the Commission’s position that there was no obstruction, Sarkar referred to an incident in the Agartala Municipal Corporation area in which a CPI(M) supporter was allegedly severely injured in an attack by persons whom he identified as supporters of the ruling party.
He said the incident, along with the latest developments and the High Court’s intervention, raised serious questions about the law-and-order situation and the Election Commission’s assessment of the ground reality during the election process.
Meanwhile, Sarkar said discussions between the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress over a possible INDIA bloc understanding in the November 27 urban local body elections were still continuing, despite the failure to reach a comprehensive seat-sharing arrangement before the conclusion of nomination filing on Friday.
He said local-level agreements had been reached in Teliamura and Kumarghat, while discussions were also held in several other subdivisions, including Agartala, but remained inconclusive.
Sarkar said November 10, the last date for withdrawal of nominations, provided further scope for the two parties to arrive at an understanding.
He declined to predict the outcome of the negotiations, but said leaders of both parties were aware of the ongoing discussions and could still make efforts towards a positive conclusion.
He said the objective of the proposed understanding was to prevent division of opposition votes and provide a common electoral platform against the BJP.
