Agartala: August 08: Opposition leader Jitendra Chowdhury stated in a press conference on Thursday that the ruling party’s attacks and intimidation have turned the three-tier panchayat elections into a farce.
According to him, since morning, opposition voters and workers have faced obstructions in all areas of the state where voting was taking place. Even those who were contesting the elections as independents after failing to get BJP tickets were attacked. He expressed displeasure with the role of the State Election Commission and the police administration.
He further stated that the BJP has won more than 70% of the seats uncontested. The BJP is also quite worried about the few seats where elections were held. That is why attacks, intimidation, assaults on polling agents, and attempts to obstruct voting have taken place there. BJP workers even threatened to take pictures of voters to show who they were voting for, the opposition leader claimed.
In the press conference, the opposition leader leveled several allegations against former Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, MLAs Bindu Debnath, and Tofazzal Hossain. He accused them of attacking opposition and independent candidates. Additionally, it was alleged that voters were prevented from going to polling booths in several places, including Jirania, Bamutia, and Mekhlipara.
Similarly, voters were obstructed in the Rishyamukh block. The opposition leader alleged that polling agents were evicted.
Opposition leader Jitendra Chowdhury said that Tripura had a tradition of voting. Here, votes were cast in a festive mood. But now that has been lost. Additionally, the opposition leader demanded re-elections in areas where voters were influenced through attacks and intimidation.
Speaking about Bangladesh, he appealed to the people of the state, saying that there is emotion and anxiety among the people of the state and the country about the situation in the neighboring country. That is natural. However, he appealed that the state should not try to incite communal tensions or exaggerate the issues of the neighboring country and give wrong interpretations to the people of the state.
