AGARTALA, April 27 (TIWN): West Tripura Returning Officer (RO) Sandeep Mahatme has sent an arbitrary report on Tripura poll rigging for the West Tripura constituency where rigged booths were excluded and less rigged booths were sent. Congress MP candidate Subal Bhowmik said the RO did it to frustrate the opposition and Congress will not tolerate such illegal moves of the RS. Opposition Congress has demanded re-polling of the total constituency as according to RO’s report and oppositions’ allegation around 1200 booths were rigged. Subal Bhowmik, “The RO’s report displays total 433 booths were rigged, whereas Congress, CPI-M said total 846 booth were totally captured. Moreover, RO’s report excluded the opposition led list of rigged booths and the booths where peaceful election was conducted, were called for re-polling”.

 In this situation Congress has demanded fresh re-polling as lakhs of voters could not cast their votes 11th April West Tripura constituency. 

Subal Bhowmik raised question when polling agents of the opposition were beaten, pushed out of the booths how only 433 booths’ names could be mentioned ?

 All happened as there was a lack of security across the West Tripura poll and only one police, one security were deployed in booths, said Subal Bhowmik.

When lakhs of voters could not cast their votes on 11th April, 2019, Polling agents were beaten and pushed out of the booths (footages of injured polling agents are viral), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti has also said that even after multiple times requests, political parties could not provide their polling agents in West Tripura poll.

He also said only the complaints came till 16th April has been focused on and oppositions delayed to submit allegations with evidences. However, how CEO made such rule, it is questionable, because it was his duty to keep evidence by CCTV footage, but oppositions had to collected such rigging photos and naturally it took time.

Congress may also file a case in Supreme Court as CEO is allegedly intentionally delaying re-poll announcement to delay the case filing.