The previous panchayat election in Jubarajnagar constituency under the North Tripura District, held under the leadership of the incumbent MLA Jadab Lal Debnath, was marred by allegations of irregularities and violence. Opposition candidates were reportedly prevented from filing their nominations and even assaulted, leading to a tense atmosphere in the area.
To address those concerns and restore balance, state minister and former general secretary Tinku Ray and Teliamura MLA and incumbent Chief Whip of the Tripura State Assembly Kalyani Ray held a series of meetings in Jubarajnagar to normalize the situation. In many cases, opposition candidates were unable to file their nominations due to Jadab Debnath’s alleged intimidation and hooliganism. The panchayat, panchayat samiti, and zilla parishad were eventually formed through a one-sided and allegedly ‘rigged’ election.
However, there is a renewed hope for a fair and peaceful panchayat election this time. Since Dr. Manik Saha took oath as the Chief Minister of the state, all the elections that have been held in a free and fair manner, opined people of the Jubarajnagar.
“The opposition has not been able to raise any complaints or allegations. The state has witnessed the assembly elections, by-elections, and finally the 18th Lok Sabha elections, all of which were conducted under tight security and voters were able to exercise their franchise without any fear or hindrance”, commented a local trader.
Residents of the area, as well as the opposition parties, are hoping that the upcoming panchayat election will be conducted in a fair and peaceful manner, similar to the other elections held under Dr. Manik Saha’s leadership. The panchayat election is due to be held soon, and the Election Commission is taking strict measures to ensure its smooth conduct.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
