Agartala, 23rd October 2026 : Leaders of five Left parties on Friday urged Tripura’s acting Director General of Police (DGP), G.S. Rao, to ensure the deployment of central paramilitary forces during the upcoming elections to 21 municipal and urban local bodies in the state, citing concerns over the security of opposition candidates and the need for free and fair polling.
A delegation comprising representatives of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI(ML) Liberation met Rao and submitted a memorandum containing six demands. The delegation was led by Tripura Left Front Committee convener Manik Dey and included RSP state secretary Dipak Deb, Milon Baidya of the CPI, Raghunath Sarkar of the Forward Bloc and Partha Karmakar of the CPI(ML) Liberation.
The Left parties called for unrestricted movement of candidates, particularly those belonging to opposition parties, during the nomination-filing period. They demanded the deployment of central forces along roads leading to Returning Officers’ offices and at all polling stations. They also sought route marches and patrols in municipal areas beginning seven days before polling.
Other demands included allocating meeting venues on a first-come, first-served basis, providing security to polling agents who face threats, consulting opposition parties before identifying sensitive polling stations, and maintaining surveillance over hotels, guest houses and community halls during the campaign silence period to prevent unusual gatherings.
In their memorandum, the parties expressed concern over what they described as a deteriorating law-and-order situation and repeated political attacks on opposition organisations. They alleged that several Left and other opposition party offices had been attacked and vandalised multiple times, with no effective action taken against those responsible.
Referring to the 2021 municipal elections, the Left parties alleged that opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations through intimidation and obstruction on roads leading to Returning Officers’ offices. They claimed that the BJP secured uncontested victories across all seats in Ranirbazar, Jirania, Mohanpur, Bishalgarh and Santirbazar municipal bodies.
The memorandum also cited alleged irregularities during the recently concluded Village Committee elections. According to the Left parties, opposition candidates were obstructed from filing nominations in Hejamara, Belbari, Jirania and Jampuijala blocks, as well as parts of Teliamura block, resulting in uncontested victories for ruling coalition parties. They further alleged that opposition counting agents were assaulted and driven away in Salema, Tulashikhar and Kathalia blocks.
Seeking a level playing field for all political parties, the delegation urged the police administration to take preventive measures and ensure that candidates, polling agents and voters could participate in the electoral process without fear or intimidation.
After the meeting, Manik Dey said the acting DGP had indicated that he would request the deployment of central security forces for the municipal elections. Dey added that the forces would be utilised if the Centre made them available.
