Congress calls for re-polling in Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency

AGARTALA: Weeks after the conclusion of polling in Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency, Tripura Congress has called for re-polls in the constituency.

A delegation of the Tripura Congress met officials of the election commission of India (ECI), led by chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajib Kumar in New Delhi on Monday (April 29).

Speaking to the media, Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha, who is also the Congress candidate for Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, said that a delegation of eight members from the All India Congress Committee, including Rajib Shukla, Supriya Shrinate, Sudip Roy Barman, and three additional advocates, met with the ECI team.

They apprised the commission of alleged misconduct and electoral malpractices during first phase of elections in Tripura.

Saha said, “During the first phase of the election held on April 19, we lodged numerous complaints regarding poll manipulation and violations of the Model Code of Conduct. There were instances of misconduct perpetrated by the state government and the ruling BJP.”

“Our polling agents encountered obstruction and were forcibly expelled from polling stations. Instances of fraudulent voting occurred, with some BJP supporters reportedly intimidating voters, hindering them from exercising their franchise. We also raised concerns regarding the conduct of former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb, who contested as a BJP candidate, allegedly with the backing of the administration and the government,” the Tripura Congress chief alleged.

Further, Saha accused the Tripura chief electoral officer (CEO), Puneet Agarwal, of failing to uphold the promised three-tier security system.