TMC Moves SC, Seeks Court-Monitored Probe Into Violence During Tripura Municipal Polls

Tripura municipal elections were held on Thursday amid allegations of violence, rigging at booths and voter intimidation by opposition parties Trinamool Congress and CPI(M).

People wait to cast their votes at a polling booth during the Tripura municipal elections (PTI)

New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress moved the Supreme Court on Friday seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged violence in parts of Tripura during the municipal elections. 

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who sought urgent listing of two applications filed by TMC, told a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna that the Tripura administration did not provide unhindered access of the election process to the media despite court orders.

"There was absolute mayhem there. Even candidates were not allowed to vote. There were violent incidents. Even media reports said there was violation of Supreme Court orders," PTI quoted Kapil Sibal as saying. 

READ | Tripura Municipal Elections: TMC Claims Workers Attacked By BJP Goons, Releases Videos Of Booth Rigging

The two-judge bench said the court had passed a detailed and specific order while dealing with the issue on Thursday. Sibal said despite orders by the court, two battalions of CAPF were not provided. "Two constables were also not provided to the contesting candidates. We have electronic media evidence with us. Kindly list these applications urgently," Sibal said.

The bench informed that a different combination of judges would sit on Friday. Justice Chandrachud said judges were busy with official functions on the occasion of Constitution Day. "Let's see what can be done," he said.

The TMC has filed two applications in the court. One of them sought postponement of counting of votes and result of the polls and investigation into the violent incidents by a court-monitored panel. The other application sought impleadment of State Election Commissioner. 

The Supreme Court had directed the Union Home Ministry to provide two additional companies of the CAPF to secure the polling booths during the Tripura municipal polls.

Tripura municipal elections were held on Thursday amid allegations of violence, rigging at booths and voter intimidation by opposition parties Trinamool Congress and CPI(M). The TMC released several videos alleging their party workers were beaten up by "BJP goons". The TMC claimed "BJP goons" were preventing people from going out to vote, saying there was "no law and order" in Tripura.