In a scathing criticism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Tripura unit of the Indian National Congress on Thursday said that leaders of the saffron party were lashing out at opposition members. The allegations come at a time when the Indian National Congress and the CPI(M) are in talks to fight a united front against the BJP in the upcoming general elections. Three-tier panchayat elections.
The Left Front on Thursday filed its nomination papers for 16 seats in the West Tripura Assembly, appealing to voters to defeat the BJP.The CPI(M) is trying to capitalise on the changed political situation across the country, especially following the BJP’s performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
“The BJP has suffered a devastating blow in the Assembly elections. The people, especially those living in rural areas, have suffered a major blow to their self-esteem. Now is the time to come together and defeat the BJP in the Tripura Assembly elections,” Left Front Tripura convener Narayan Karu said.
“Tripura Assembly elections are a battle between common man and BJP”
Kalu further said, “The panchayat elections are not a fight between the Left Front and the BJP. It is a fight between the common people and the BJP. To ensure that, we are ready to support anyone who stands up to fight them (BJP) democratically.”
Kalu confirmed that the Left Front is in talks with the Indian National Congress to jointly contest the Tripura Assembly elections, but added that details have yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress held a series of important internal meetings with party insiders saying talks were underway to continue its alliance with the Left Front in the run-up to the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Tripura, state Congress leader Ashish Kumar Saha alleged that BJP-backed hooligans have been targeting opposition activists and leaders ever since the three-phase panchayat elections were announced on Wednesday.
BJP trying to manipulate people’s confidence: Congress
Saha, along with Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former minister Sudip Roy Burman, said the BJP has failed to fulfil its pre-election promises and has lost a large section of its support base, so it is trying to stoke tensions and manipulate public confidence across the state.
Saha and Barman alleged that the ruling BJP was conspiring to disrupt peaceful, free and fair local elections and said the Indian National Congress would resist the BJP’s scare tactics and allow candidates to contest fairly in the panchayat elections.
EC playing favouritism: Congress leaders
Congress leaders also criticised the state Election Commission, saying it was a statutory body but was following policies favourable to the ruling party, and raised doubts about the state police.
“There is an unprecedented wave of violence and intimidation against our supporters and candidates. This is an attempt by the BJP to undermine a healthy democratic process and intimidate opposition activists and candidates,” Saha said.
Speaking in a similar vein, Barman emphasised the need for free and fair elections. “The role of the State Election Commission and the police is to instil voter confidence, ensure a level playing field and ensure impartiality and fairness. But their actions suggest a bias towards the ruling BJP,” he said.
Meanwhile, former minister and senior Indian National Congress leader Virajit Sinha said his party would continue to work with the opposition CPIM to fight united against the BJP as it will do in the 2023 general elections and ensure that it wins a majority of seats.
BJP’s rebuttal
Reacting to the allegations, BJP state spokesman Navendu Bhattacharjee said the opposition should first field candidates in all constituencies and then hold the BJP responsible for the violence. “They no longer have any supporters. Let them field candidates first,” he said.
Bhattacharya also denied the allegations of violence against the BJP and said the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI(M)) were spreading false allegations to save face after the election results.
As per schedule, 6,370 seats in 606 gram panchayats, 423 seats in 35 panchayat samitis and 116 seats in eight zilla parishad bodies in the state will go to polls on August 8. The votes will be counted on August 12.
Formally announcing the gram panchayat elections, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Saradindu Chaudhuri said the notification for the elections would be issued on Thursday and nomination papers could be submitted till July 18.
Submitted nomination papers will be scrutinised the following day, but candidates can withdraw their nomination papers up until July 22.
© Indian Express Ltd.
First uploaded: 07 Nov 2024 23:08 IST
