BY TC News Desk
Agartala, January 19, 2023: As the election schedule has been announced by the Election Commission of India, Tripura’s Left Front and Congress parties on Thursday jointly formed “Secular Democratic Forces” and appealed all anti-BJP political parties to unite together in ousting this ruling saffron party from the power.
This “Secular Democratic Forces” is going to give a deputation to the Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte on January 21 next over various issues of violence and attacks taking place on opposition political parties across the state.
On Thursday, Tripura CPIM secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, Left Front convenor Narayan Kar, Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha and former MLA Asish Kumar Saha held a joint meeting at the official residence of Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman here in Agartala city.
In a press conference at Agartala Press Club on Thursday afternoon, Congress MLA Roy Barman said that the anti-people activities of the BJP-led government has forced all opposition political parties to unite together and fight the election aiming to oust saffron party from power.
“In Tripura, a question is rising among the minds of the electorates whether they will be exercise their franchise in the ensuing polling day i.e. February 16 next. Since the formation of BJP-led government, people were restricted to exercise their democratic rights in all the elections took place in the state. Not only this false voting taken place immensely. Even, the incumbent Chief Minister is widely known as CM who won the election through false votes”, he added.
Labelling allegations against ruling party, Congress MLA said “BJP-sponsored hooligans’ party is openly challenging the Election Commission of India by constituting several attacks and violence activities in different parts of the state after the announcement of the election dates. As the soil has eroded beneath the ruling party leaders, they started staging attacks on opposition workers, and terrorize people ahead of election. This ‘Secular Democratic Force’ will ensure the downfall of fascist force.”
Speaking in the press meet, CPIM state secretary Chaudhury said “There is an utmost need of the hour to retain democracy and abide by the constitution in Tripura. Hence, this BJP-led government has to be ousted from power. The CEO has initiated ‘Zero Poll Violence’ which recognizes that how the elections took place in last five years in this state as people were restricted to cast their votes.”
He said that the ECI delegation visited Tripura held meeting with different levels of administrative officials and also held meeting with the representatives of the different political parties. All the political parties reiterated for free and fair election.
“But, people of the state are witnessing that the ruling party has openly challenged the Election Commission by staging several incidents of violence and attacks at Jirania, Suryamaninagar, Rajnagar, etc. There is no proper patrolling by the state police and central forces”, he added.
Replying to query on CM’s statement, Congress MLA Roy Barman said “He is not a political person, we don’t react to non-political person. We are not so impulsive to react.”
