CPIM Tripura state secretary Gautam Das on Monday lashed out at the BJP-led state government and sought clarifications regarding its motive towards the elections in Autonomous District Council Areas.
The polls were already deferred due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown. The term of the outgoing elected members ended on May 17 last and an administrator was appointed as per the constitution as elections could be held due to lockdown.
However, according to the CPIM leader, the working tenure of the administrator which was scheduled to conclude this mid-November had been dramatically extended. The party felt that this extension might have taken place owing to the ruling party’s intention of postponing the elections for another short while–may be six months or so.
“The ADC is a constitutional institution and it needs to be run by a democratically elected body. If elections of broader space like America, Bihar and by-elections of several other assembly and Lok Sabha seats can be conducted despite the pandemic, the elections of TTAADC should also be conducted in time” Das argued and added that he had written to the Chief Minister in vain seeking his reactions and preparations of the government to conduct the polls.
He had also claimed that the ruling BJP party was sponsoring insurgent elements which were regaining power in certain areas of the ADC areas.
“Since the last few months, people are spending nights in a harrowing atmosphere. In areas like Gandacherra, Amarpur and Jirania, extortion notices had been served. In some areas report of extortion notice came out whereas in some other areas people are too terrified to report to the police”, he said and added, in Panisagar under North Tripura, three NLFT ultras have been arrested. However, the state government is maintaining a conspicuous silence over the issue”, Das told reporters.
He had also reiterated the demands of former health ministers of Tripura Badal Chowdhury and Tapan Chakraborty to recruit adequate number of doctors and health professionals in Tripura to handle the Covid situation that might see further deterioration in the winter season. The party also extended support to the general strike called by various trade union bodies on November 26 against the newly amended labour codes.
