Agartala, Oct 17 (PTI): The CPI(M)-led Left Front on Thursday urged Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha to deploy central forces at all polling booths for the upcoming elections to 21 civic bodies, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).
Addressing a press conference, Left Front convener Manik Dey said a delegation met Saha at his official residence and discussed measures to ensure free and fair polls.
“We categorically sought his intervention for the deployment of central forces on polling day to make the electoral process free and fair,” Dey said.
He said the delegation also apprised the chief minister of the difficulties faced by the Left parties during the recently concluded elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and its village committees.
During the village committee elections, the Left parties could not file nomination papers in eight blocks because of alleged obstruction by the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and its ally, the BJP, he claimed.
“We urged the chief minister to arrange additional central forces to ensure peaceful elections to the civic bodies,” Dey said.
Saha assured the delegation that he would try to arrange additional central forces to ensure peaceful polling, he added.
The chief minister also advised the Left Front to approach the State Election Commission and Director General of Police G S Rao to seek the deployment of central forces at polling booths, Dey said.
“We will do so once the state election panel announces the polls,” he added.
The civic polls are likely to be held in November.
