Even as the ruling BJP claimed the by-poll was peaceful despite opposition parties’ instigation, opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress alleged large scale violence and terror tactics indulged in by the ruling party activists to restrict the opposition voters from entering the polling booths.
Opposition Congress, TMC and CPM alleged most of the violence were committed by the ‘outsiders’ meaning the youths who had reportedly, been brought form other constituencies.
CPM alleged that there was large scale ‘proxy voting’ in all the four constituencies. The Marxists demanded repolling in 17 booths among them six in 6-Agartala constituency.
The central paramilitary forces this time chased them time and again, but still the intimidation and terrorizing of the electors were committed, alleged the opposition parties.
Notwithstanding the allegations of rigging and violence, both the Congress and TMC , however, said, voters did resist the threats and intimidations and ultimately cast their votes. Though Congress demanded re-poll in three polling stations the party hoped that its candidates would come out victorious.
Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha in a press conference said they had received reports of irregularities in booth number 12, 13 and 55 and demanded re poll there.
Sinha although slammed the ruling party for resorting to unprecedented violence maintained that in spite of the terrors and attacks voters managed to cast their votes.
Gopal Roy , former PCC president over telephone told tripuranet.com, ‘democracy was murdered and the rigging was unprecedented’ .
TMC leader Rajib Banerjee, in charge of Tripura, in a press meet flayed the BJP alleging that the sweeping terror tactics at the instance of their leaders and councilors. Banerjee said assaults and violence committed by the BJP workers were reports from all the poll going constituencies and as per the preliminary reports there were as many as 144 complaints lodged to the Election Commission.
Banerjee who was accompanied by TMC state unit president Subal Bhowmik alleged that the party’s polling agents were not even allowed to enter the polling stations.
The TMC leader then added: What, nevertheless, we noticed is that this time the voters had fought back against the BJP’s hooliganism during the polling and cast their vote.
CPM state secretary Jitendra Choudhury also alleged violence by ‘outsiders’ and accused a section of police officials of acting at the behest of the ruling party. He was particularly critical of the fact that most of the allegations of violence came from 8 Bordowali seat which happens to be the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha’s constituency.
A large number of the motor-bike borne hooligans and outsiders were mobilized during the time of entire voting process, CPM secretary alleged.
