Tripura State Election Commissioner (SEC) Dr Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty clarified that election security arrangements focus on nomination centres, not candidates’ residences. Responding to political allegations, he defended the Commission’s arrangements and assured a peaceful, transparent and fair municipal election process.
Tripura State Election Commissioner Dr Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty has clarified that security arrangements during the ongoing nomination process for municipal and urban local body elections are primarily focused on nomination centres and Returning Officers’ offices, stating that providing police protection to every candidate from their residence to the nomination venue is neither practical nor possible.
Addressing the media on Saturday amid political allegations of obstruction and security lapses during the nomination process, Chakraborty said the State Election Commission had taken necessary steps to ensure a secure environment within and around the offices of Returning Officers. He maintained that adequate security arrangements had been implemented to allow candidates to submit their nomination papers without disruption.
The Election Commissioner explained that election authorities could not provide individual security arrangements to every prospective candidate because it was difficult to anticipate in advance who would arrive to file nominations. Candidates may contest elections on behalf of political parties or as independents, making it impractical for the Commission to arrange police protection at every individual’s residence.
He emphasised that the Commission’s responsibility was to ensure safe access to nomination centres and maintain proper arrangements at designated venues so that all eligible candidates could exercise their democratic rights within the prescribed timeframe.
Responding to allegations concerning an incident in Teliamura, Chakraborty said the Commission had immediately sought clarification after receiving complaints that two prospective candidates had allegedly been prevented from entering the Returning Officer’s office to submit their nomination papers.
According to the Election Commissioner, the Commission contacted the Returning Officer of Teliamura Municipal Council to verify the allegations and obtain details of the incident. Following the verification, the Returning Officer informed the Commission that the individuals concerned had visited the office but had not arrived for the purpose of filing nomination papers.
Chakraborty said the information provided by the Returning Officer indicated that the husband and wife had visited the office to seek certain information and had not submitted any request or application relating to nomination filing.
He also rejected allegations that the couple had been forcibly removed from the Returning Officer’s chamber. According to the clarification received by the Commission, they had left the room on their own.
The Election Commissioner further stated that the Commission was continuing to monitor complaints and reports concerning the nomination process across the state. Necessary steps would be taken wherever required to address issues and ensure that candidates were not subjected to unnecessary obstacles while participating in the electoral process.
With nomination scrutiny underway and political activities intensifying across Tripura, the Commission has reiterated its commitment to conducting peaceful, transparent and fair municipal and urban local body elections.
Chakraborty maintained that every eligible candidate should receive an opportunity to participate in the democratic process without undue hindrance. He also indicated that election authorities were keeping a close watch on developments in different constituencies to ensure that the nomination process proceeded according to established rules and procedures.
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The Commission’s clarification comes amid growing political attention surrounding the nomination process, particularly allegations relating to candidates’ access to Returning Officers’ offices. The Election Commissioner has sought to distinguish between security arrangements at designated election venues and individual protection outside those centres, maintaining that the Commission’s priority is to safeguard the nomination process and ensure a fair electoral environment.
