New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) A Congress delegation met the Election Commission on Thursday and asked it to take measures for conducting free and fair polls in Tripura in view of an attack on party in-charge of the state Ajoy Kumar during a bike rally there.
A delegation of party leaders led by AICC general secretary Kumari Selja met the chief election commissioner here and also demanded action against those behind the attack.
Meanwhile, chief electoral officer (CEO), Tripura said that the Election Commission of India has ordered an inquiry into the “incident of political violence” in Jirania sub-division of West Tripura district reported on January 18.
“The Election Commission of India has asked the chief electoral officer, Tripura to obtain a report from DGP, Tripura through chief secretary and submit it by 3 pm on Friday,” the CEO said in a tweet.
The Congress leaders also demanded that the Election Commission make the state officials accountable to ensure free and fair polls in the state.
Elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 16 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
“We have met the Election Commission on the attack on Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in Tripura, who had gone there for poll campaign,” Selja told reporters after meeting the EC.
“Probably, fearing defeat in the polls, the BJP is indulging in such things,” she said.
The Congress leader said Kumar has suffered a fracture and 16 other people have been injured during a bike rally, when “BJP people” attacked them.
“It is stated that a BJP minister in Tripura was also present during the attack and was probably leading the assailants,” she claimed.
“This is not the first time such an incident has happened. On June 27, a party delegation had met the EC and informed it about some serious attacks like this. Ajoy Kumar had himself written to EC on June 29 and had sought security for himself. But unfortunately, there has been no action after that.
“When the ruling party indulges in such murderous attacks, we have urged the Election Commission to ensure safety and security of political leaders, especially those who do not belong to the ruling party, besides ensuring free and fair elections,” she said.
Selja alleged that an atmosphere is being created in Tripura to intimidate people. “We have sought security for Ajoy Kumar, besides strict action against those involved in the incident,” the Congress leader said, adding that the Election Commission has said that they are taking this issue seriously.
The delegation included AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera and AICC secretary Vineet Punia.
“The CEC agreed that this is a serious issue and the image of the EC is also taking a beating if such issues are repeated. He has assured us that he is taking action on this issue so that such violence does not take place again in Tripura,” Khera said. PTI SKC SKC KVK KVK
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