Tripura Panchayat Polls: Campaigning Gains Momentum

A Correspondent

Agartala: As the polling date for panchayat election is drawing closer, political parties are intensifying their campaign in all the eight districts of Tripura by organizing meetings and processions to woo the voters.

Though Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has not yet joined in any election rally, all the parties are fielding their senior leaders in the campaigns. All the ministers and MLAs of BJP are actively campaigning in their respective constituencies. Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Sunday addressed a public meeting in support of party candidate for Zilla Parishad Debal Roy at Jamjuri in Udaipur and claimed that the BJP government is working for the development of the State.

Tripura Pradesh Congress president Pradyot Bikram Kishor Debbarman is leading the campaign for his party while senior leaders like former PCC presidents Birajit Sinha and Gopal Roy, women leaders Joydani Tripura, Laxmi Nag and many others are touring different parts of the State.

Though the CPI (M) is less visible in the filed, senior party leaders like former ministers Badal Choudhury, Tapan Chakraborty, and Manik Dey are campaigning in different parts of the State. They are mainly concentrating on “atrocities committed by BJP” and accused the party of “destroying the democratic environment” in the State.

Barring a few incidents, the campaigning, so far, has remained peaceful. One incident was reported from Dharmanagar where BJP and Congress supporters clashed with each other and one of the BJP candidates sustained serious injuries and is still in the hospital.

However, both the CPI (M) and the Congress are alleging that they are unable to undertake to campaign in a free atmosphere “as the BJP supporters are posing a threat in different ways.”

However, the Tripura police claimed that they have taken all precautionary measures to maintain peace. Arindam Nath, Inspector General of Police, in a press conference urged all the political parties to file complains if in any way they are prevented or harassed during the poll campaign.

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