AGARTALA:
With just 12 days to go for the Tripura bye-polls, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct free and fair bye-polls failing which the party has threatened to intensify protests in the state.
Addressing the press at Agartala Press Club Tripura on June 10, AITC state in-charge, Rajib Banerjee, alleged that as soon as the date for the by polls were announced, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed miscreants threatened the Mamata Banerjee-led party’s workers and supporters.
“Our flags, and banners were destroyed in Surma constituency. They (BJP) are threatening our candidates and party workers. We have informed the ECI and State Chief Electoral officer too. If they fail to take any appropriate steps, the party would hit the streets. Yesterday, a BJP leader in Surma threatened and used abusive language against our worker Ganesh Goala. BJP workers also tore our party posters and flags in Darang and Bamancherra gram panchayat areas under Surma Assembly constituency,” he alleged.
Condemning the BJP for endorsing the “goon culture” of so-called “bike bahini” (bike-borne miscreants), he questioned, “The BJP’s internal conflict has reached a point where the party’s bike bahini members thrashed their own mandal president in Takarjala in West District. In such a situation, how can the Trinamool leaders be safe?
He further added, “In such circumstances, we don’t think free and fair poll are possible. We will not tolerate this and will not be silent.”
Informing that the party has already apprised the election commission over BJP’s constant attacks on Trinamool leaders and destruction of the party paraphernalia, TMC Tripura president Subal Bhowmik said, “We have written to the Election Commission yet again complaining against BJP’s “bike bahini”. Election Commission officials held a meeting with all candidates yesterday and we narrated the entire incident to them. Today, we have submitted a letter as well. Under present circumstances, free and fair elections are not possible,” said Bhowmik.
Likewise, accusing the BJP of creating lawlessness at 6-Agartala Assembly Constituency, the Tripura Congress Pradesh Committee (TPCC) has formed ‘resistance force’ to tackle ‘Bike Bahini’ (bike-borne miscreants), and also lodged a complaint against the party ahead of the by-polls.
“Members of the BJP disrupted the campaign rally of our candidate Sudip Roy Barman for 6-Agartala Assembly Constituency. We have asked the Chief Electoral Officer to hold an all-party meeting to solve the issues or such activities will continue. We want that people are allowed to vote in a free and fair manner,” PCC Chief Birajit Sinha said on June 10.
Stating that the party will resist any kind of violence, Sinha said that the resistance force will be used at the right time. He also urged the police and civil administration to take action against the BJP-backed miscreants.