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Atmosphere of terror widespread in Tripura: Sitaram Yechury

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Mar 11, 2018, 10:34 AM IST
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CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the situation in Tripura was such that a free and fair election was not possible. Photograph:(ANI)

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The CPI (M) leader alleged that even though their party cadre was 'under constant threat', the Election Commission (EC) had refused to postpone the elections in Tripura till normalcy was restored

A day after the CPI (M) withdrew from the election to the Charilam Assembly seat in Tripura, alleging post-poll violence, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the situation in Tripura was such that a free and fair election was not possible.

Sitaram Yechury alleged that an "atmosphere of terror is widespread" in Tripura and that people were not venturing out of their homes to buy their daily requirements.

"Situation in Tripura is such that no free and fair election is possible. An atmosphere of terror is widespread. Markets haven't opened. People aren't coming out to buy their daily requirements. In such situation to expect a free and fair election is preposterous," Sitaram Yechury said.

The CPI (M) leader also alleged that even though their party cadre was "under constant threat", the Election Commission (EC) had refused to postpone the elections in Charilam till normalcy was restored. He said the elections in Charilam would be a "farce".

"The Our party cadre are under constant threat. Till you restore normalcy Charilam election should be postponed but EC refused. So in that situation it will be exposing more of our people for more harm. This is anti-democratic and this election will be a farce," Sitaram Yechury said.

Charilam goes to polls on March 12.

Yesterday, CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar alleged that the BJP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) had resorted to "post-poll violence in the constituency". He said that the CPI(M)  candidate was compelled to stay outside the constituency and was not able to move in the constituency even with a security cover. 

Polling to the Charilam seat was postponed a week before the February 18 elections following the death of CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma. 

The party had later fielded Palash Debbarma from the seat.

Palash Debbarma was pitted against BJP leader and newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarman, who is not a member of the 60-member Tripura Assembly. The Congress has nominated Arjun Debbarma from the seat.

The BJP-IPFT alliance had won the polls with a two-thirds majority in the Assembly. The BJP had bagged 35 seats, while the IPFT won eight of the 59 seats that went to polls.

(With inputs from agencies)