Agartala, 31st October 2026 : Alleging a series of intimidation and obstruction incidents against opposition candidates following the announcement of the Urban Local Body election schedule, the Tripura Left Front Committee has urged the State Election Commission to take immediate measures to ensure a secure environment for nomination filing and the subsequent electoral process.
In a representation submitted to the State Election Commissioner on Saturday, Left Front Convener Manik Dey claimed that opposition candidates and party workers were facing threats and obstruction in different parts of the state, including Jirania, Kamalpur and Mohanpur.
Dey recalled that opposition parties had expressed apprehensions over the possibility of electoral intimidation during the All-Party Meeting convened by the State Election Commission on September 14. He alleged that recent developments had substantiated those concerns.
Citing specific incidents, the Left Front alleged that a Congress representative was assaulted by persons identified as BJP supporters while travelling to the Returning Officer’s office in Jirania Nagar Panchayat on Friday. The incident reportedly prevented him from attending a meeting called by the Returning Officer.
The representation further claimed that on Saturday, roads leading to the Returning Officer’s office in Jirania were blocked to stop CPI(M) candidates from submitting their nomination papers.
In Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat, CPI(M) candidates who had gathered at their party office to proceed together for nomination submission were allegedly surrounded and threatened with serious consequences if they attempted to move forward, the letter stated.
Similar allegations were raised from Mohanpur Municipal Council, where miscreants reportedly obstructed roads leading to the Returning Officer’s office to prevent opposition candidates from filing their nominations.
The Left Front also referred to the 2021 Urban Local Body elections, alleging that opposition candidates were prevented from contesting in several urban bodies, resulting in BJP candidates being elected uncontested in Kamalpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Udaipur, Santirbazar and Bishalgarh.
Warning against a recurrence of the previous election experience, Dey called upon the Commission to intervene without delay and ensure that every eligible candidate gets an opportunity to contest freely.
Among its key demands, the Left Front sought police escorts for opposition candidates travelling to and from Returning Officers’ offices, particularly in Kamalpur, Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Udaipur, Santirbazar and Bishalgarh.
It also demanded adequate security for candidates, their family members and residences after nomination submission to prevent possible retaliatory attacks.
Additionally, the committee urged the deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF) across all urban body areas until the conclusion of the elections. It proposed that security personnel be specifically deployed along roads leading to Returning Officers’ offices and instructed to take action against unruly elements.
The Left Front maintained that effective intervention by the State Election Commission was essential to ensure a peaceful, transparent and democratic electoral process.
