'Constitution Didn't Work, Poll Converted Into Farce': Former CM Manik Sarkar On Tripura Election Results

Sarkar claimed that democracy and the constitution were under attack, adding that the electorate's right to exercise franchise with freedom was taken away from the citizens in the state.

Ex-Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar hit out at the BJP-IPFT alliance state government that assumed power for the second consecutive on Saturday. Sarkar said it is completely unexpected how the party won the elections as the government's performance was zero, reported ANI.

He claimed that democracy and the constitution were under attack, adding that the electorate's right to exercise franchise with freedom was taken away from the citizens in the state, as cited by ANI.

The former Chief Minister of the state added that the constitutional mechanisms did not work properly.

Sarkar, as mentioned by news agency ANI, said: "It's unexpected as govt's performance was zero, democracy attacked & electorate's right to exercise franchise freely snatched away. Poll converted to farce. Constitution didn't work."

He went on to attack the BJP and alliance parties in the state in the wake of the state assembly polls results in which the BJP returned to power with a total of 32 seats in a 60-member state assembly on Thursday, in alliance with Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) for the second consecutive time.

Sarkar wondered who helped BJP in returning to power. He said, "Result is something different. One thing is clear, 60% of the electorate didn't vote for BJP. Anti-BJP vote divided."

"Several things happened...People have started saying who helped BJP to come to power again. It's very clear. I don't like to mention any party's name," Manik Sarkar further remarked as mentioned by ANI.

Meanwhile, the state of Tripura has been reporting some post-poll violence cases after the election results were announced earlier this week. Around eight people were left injured in Tripura in post-poll violence incidents as per the state police on Saturday. 

So far, the officials have arrested at least twenty people for their alleged roles in the violent incidents that took place in the state after the election results were announced in which Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha was re-elected in office, news agency PTI reported.

A maximum number of cases pertaining to post-poll violence reportedly emerged from two districts Sepahijala and Khowai. Injured people from these districts were sent to a local hospital in the area.

The police department said, “Some elements are trying to disturb the peace in the state by spreading rumours of clash and attack. It is informed that so far no untoward incident has been reported. Police are actively patrolling in all sensitive areas."

The police have further asked people to not believe any such rumours. The authorities have also requested the citizens to report any such misleading information or post to the nearest police station.

(With Inputs From Agencies)