CPI (M) alleges mass rigging after BJP wins two assembly seats in Tripura by-poll

Six months ago, in the assembly elections, the BJP conceded the Boxanagar seat to CPI-M candidate Samsul Haque by a margin of about 5,000 votes when the voter turnout was 89.33 percent.

In the by-election, the polling percentage reduced marginally to 89.2 percent, but the BJP candidate won the seat by a margin of over 30,000 votes, which indicates large-scale rigging, the party said.

In 2023, BJP candidate Pratima Bhoumik won the Dhanpur assembly seat in a multi-cornered fight by a margin of about 3500 votes, but in the by-elections, BJP candidate Bindu Debnath won the seat by a margin of over 18000 votes—an unusual instance in a direct fight between the BJP and CPI-M, Politburo member and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar claimed.

"In Boxanagar constituency, the BJP won, securing 89 percent of votes polled, and 71 percent in Dhanpur constituency—these are unprecedented in the election history of Tripura. After having lost Boxanagar seat to the CPI-M in the February elections, it is impossible for the BJP to secure 89 percent votes except through large-scale rigging," Sarkar argued.

The results vindicate the apprehensions raised by CPI-M and justify the demand for countermanding them and holding fresh polls under strict supervision, and The Election Commission of India must review the results and the footage run on social media about how BJP cadres have looted the vote in both constituencies with the help of local administration and police, he said.

CPM state secretary Jitendra Choudhury said unless the ECI recognises the facts, there will be a question mark on its neutrality and independence.

“People still have faith in the ECI and the courts even after the Narendra Modi-led government destroyed all democratic institutions for the BJP’s narrow interests. If an organisation like ECI doesn’t stand with the truth, where will it lead India’s democracy?” he said.

(With UNI inputs)