Tripura CPIM writes to ECI against Returning Officer, accuses of bias

Agartala: The CPIM in Tripura has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging bias on the part of the Returning Officer (RO) Vishal Kumar during the filing of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election in the West Parliamentary Constituency.

In a letter penned by Jitendra Chaudhury, the leader of the opposition and MLA, CPIM raised concerns regarding discriminatory behaviour observed during the nomination process.

Specifically, the letter highlighted an incident where the BJP candidate, Biplab Kumar Deb, was reportedly accompanied by a large group of around 30 to 40 individuals inside the chamber of the RO on Wednesday.

This action, the CPIM contends, contravened statutory rules which prohibit the entry of more than five persons, including the candidate, into the RO’s chamber.

The letter pointed out that despite being aware of this prohibition, the RO allegedly allowed the crowd into the office without objection.

Additionally, it was noted that the INC candidate followed the rules by submitting nominations with adherence to the statutory guidelines.

CPIM further drew attention to similar instances of alleged bias during Assembly bye-elections in Boxanagar and Dhanpur Assembly Constituencies in Tripura in 2023, where Vishal Kumar served as the District Electoral Officer.

During these elections, CPIM claims they faced discriminatory treatment, with BJP leaders reportedly permitted to address rallies in close proximity to the RO's chamber, while CPIM supporters were restricted to a distance far from the prohibited area.

In light of these incidents, CPIM raised concerns about the RO’s impartiality and ability to ensure a fair electoral process for all contestants.

The letter urged the Chief Election Commissioner to intervene and address the alleged bias to uphold the principles of democracy and fairness in the electoral process.