Oppn parties share concern over free elections,As ECI lands in Tripura

Agartala: As the full bench of the ECI (Election Commission of India) descended on Tripura on Wednesday, opposition parties raised concerns over free and fair elections.

A full bench of ECI led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reviewed the election preparations and top officials met political representatives of various parties, police officials and police to ascertain the ground situation.

Representatives of all major political parties including BJP, IPFT, CPIM, Congress and Trinamool Congress met the officials at the state guest house and submitted a detailed memorandum.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, the three-member ECI team, BJP vice-president Dr Ashok Sinha said, “We have told the ECI that our party wants peaceful elections. We are committed to democracy.” believe and there is no room for violence. People should participate in elections like a celebration.
BJP central observer Dr Mahesh Sharma said that we have made our stand clear. Any activity affecting the electoral process should be dealt with strictly.

On the other hand, most of the opposition parties have highlighted how the lapses on the law and order front turned the recent elections into a farcical exercise.
“Voters of the state are worried about the elections. They don’t know whether they will be able to cast their votes in the upcoming elections. Be it the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, assembly by-elections or other local body elections, people will vote freely. could not and now the onus is on the Election Commission of India to ensure that people can freely exercise their adult right to vote for democratically elected government,” Chaudhry said.
The CPIM also urged the ECI to resume telecasts of some cable TV channels which had faced unfiltered coverage of the elections in violation of the ruling party’s order.

Senior Congress leader and party’s lone MLA Sudeep Roy Barman called for strengthening policing near polling stations to instill confidence among voters.

Polling booths should be protected from any violent activities. Whenever required, mobile police vans should be kept in place for quick response,” Barman said.
The ruling coalition IPFT also demanded adequate deployment of Central Armed Forces paramilitary forces.
Trinamool Congress and senior advocate Pijush Kanti Biswas said the state police should not play a key role in restoring law and order.

A section of the Tripura police is playing into the hands of the ruling party. On several occasions, they played the role of silent spectators during poll-related violence. The ECI should look into their partisan role and make alternative arrangements to restore law and order,” Biswas told the media.