Voting in Tripura municipal elections began on Thursday amid allegations of violence, rigging at booths and voter intimidation by opposition parties Trinamool Congress and CPI(M).
The TMC, which is eyeing a foothold in Tripura ahead of the 2023 assembly election, released several videos alleging their party workers were beaten up by "BJP goons". In another video, TMC claimed "BJP goons" were preventing people from going out to vote, saying there was "no law and order" in Tripura.
"By attacking our booth agents, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb has proven once again that there is NO LAW & ORDER IN TRIPURA. Is this how elections take place? Is this how a democratic nation functions?," the TMC tweeted.
The TMC also claimed that "open rigging" was taking place at several booths in the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC). The party tweeted a video showing a man in a black shirt "voting" for others in AMC ward number 13. "Free and fair elections in Agartala is turning out to be a joke," the TMC said.
The party also alleged that BJP goons were stopping voters in ward number 7 of AMC from exercising their franchise. "Biplab Deb's goons doing what they do best. Creating an atmosphere of terror, preventing people from voting, beating up candidates," the TMC tweeted.
CPI(M) state secretary Jiten Chaudhary also alleged that BJP was indulging in voter intimidation in south Tripura district and obstructing party workers from functioning freely, PTI reported.
"In several wards of Agartala Municipal Council, a large number of miscreants are intruding into those areas at the behest of ruling BJP and indulging into terrorising the opposition supporters with dire consequences," the CPI(M) said in a statement.
Voting is being held in 14 of the 20 civic bodies in Tripura, including the keenly watched Agartala Municipal Corporation. The BJP has already won unopposed in seven civic bodies. Altogether there are 334 seats in the urban local bodies, including Agartala Municipal Corporation (51 wards), 13 Municipal Councils, and six Nagar Panchayats across the state.
The run-up to the high volatge municipal elections witnessed protests and violence, with TMC claiming that several party activists were attacked.
Last week, TMC youth leader Saayoni Ghosh was arrested on charges of criminal intimidation and attempt to murder. She was granted bail on Monday. Ghosh was arrested for allegedly disrupting a meeting being addressed by CM Biplab Deb.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court passed a slew of directions to Tripura Police to ensure free and fair elections after the TMC filed a petition seeking contempt action against the Tripura government and other officials for failing to curtail violent incidents against opposition parties.