Thirteen Left Front candidates, accompanied by their proposers, submitted nomination papers for upcoming Municipal Council polls to Returning Officer Rimita Saha at around 3:10 pm on Monday, April 2, in Khowai, following alleged intimidation and security concerns that prevented them from reaching the office by the pre-scheduled time.
At A Glance
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Left Front candidates submitted nomination papers in 13 of Khowai Municipal Council’s 15 wards on Monday.
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Candidates reached the Returning Officer’s office at around 3:10 pm under tight police security after missing the scheduled noon deadline.
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CPIM leaders alleged intimidation, threats and security lapses, while MLA Nirmal Biswas criticised the ruling party over the developments.
The Left Front managed to enter the electoral contest in 13 of Khowai Municipal Council’s 15 wards on Monday after a day of political tension, allegations of intimidation and complaints against the police administration. The candidates eventually submitted their nomination papers at around 3:10 pm under tight police security, more than three hours after the scheduled deadline.
The development followed allegations by CPIM leaders that motorcycle-borne groups allegedly linked to the ruling party created disturbances and prevented opposition candidates from reaching the Returning Officer’s office on time.
The incident triggered protests by Left Front supporters and sharp criticism from Khowai MLA Nirmal Biswas. Although the candidates eventually completed the nomination process in 13 wards, the day’s developments raised questions about the security arrangements surrounding the municipal election.
Left Front Alleges Intimidation and Obstruction
According to the Left Front leadership, the party had planned to submit nomination papers for all 15 wards by the stipulated deadline of 12 noon on Monday.
However, party leaders alleged that groups of motorcycle-borne men gathered near the Returning Officer’s office and created an intimidating atmosphere. They claimed that threats, disturbances and repeated confrontations prevented the candidates from approaching the office within the scheduled time.
The Left leadership further alleged that tension prevailed from the morning near the CPIM’s Subhash Park regional office and its subdivisional office.
They also claimed that the police administration requested them not to proceed towards the Returning Officer’s office in a procession, citing the prevailing situation.
The CPIM leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the police response. They maintained that the administration had a responsibility to ensure candidates’ safety while exercising their democratic and constitutional right to contest elections.
The leaders alleged that the police failed to provide adequate security within the stipulated time, resulting in the delay in filing nomination papers.
CPIM Organises Protest March
The alleged obstruction prompted the CPIM’s Subhash Park regional committee to organise a protest march at around 12 noon on Monday.
The procession passed through different roads in Khowai town before reaching Nripen Chakraborty Avenue, where party leaders and supporters assembled for a protest meeting.
Khowai Subdivisional Committee secretary and MLA Nirmal Biswas attended the meeting. CPIM state committee member Palash Bhowmik and Left leaders Gautam Pal and Kanan Datta also participated.
The speakers criticised the alleged intimidation of opposition candidates and questioned the administration’s handling of the nomination process.
Nirmal Biswas Questions Ruling Party’s Position
Addressing the gathering, MLA Nirmal Biswas strongly criticised the ruling party over the alleged incidents.
He questioned why the ruling establishment should feel threatened by opposition parties seeking to contest the municipal elections if Khowai Municipal Council had indeed received several national-level awards for transparency.
Biswas also asked why prospective Left Front candidates and party leaders allegedly faced threats and intimidation. He raised questions about the reported presence of motorcycle-borne groups around the Returning Officer’s office.
The MLA alleged that the ruling party’s claims of development and the vision of ‘Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura’ contrasted with the difficulties opposition candidates allegedly encountered while attempting to file their nomination papers.
He said every political party had the democratic and constitutional right to participate in elections. Any attempt to obstruct that right, he argued, went against democratic principles.
Biswas also claimed that he could not recall similar circumstances surrounding opposition nomination filings during the Left Front’s 25-year rule in Tripura.
13 Candidates Reach Returning Officer’s Office Under Police Protection
Despite the day’s tension and uncertainty, the Left Front candidates remained determined to contest the municipal elections. At around 3:10 pm, 13 candidates, accompanied by their respective proposers, reached the office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Returning Officer Rimita Saha under tight police security. They subsequently submitted their nomination papers to the Returning Officer.
The candidates were Seema Deb Roy from Ward No. 1, Gautam Pal from Ward No. 2, Jharna Deb Sarkar from Ward No. 3, Sagar Pal from Ward No. 4, Tapas Deb from Ward No. 5, Manju Deb from Ward No. 6, Minakshi Das from Ward No. 7 and Samrat Chakraborty from Ward No. 8.
The other candidates were Soma Deb Datta from Ward No. 10, Jutan Ghosh from Ward No. 11, Jayanti Bhattacharya from Ward No. 12, Sayantika Deb from Ward No. 13 and Debashish Sarkar (Nupur) from Ward No. 14.
Two Wards Remain Without Left Front Candidates
The Left Front submitted nomination papers in 13 of the municipal council’s 15 wards. However, the party did not field candidates in the remaining two wards.
The reasons behind the absence of Left Front candidates in those constituencies were not immediately known.
Notably, ULB polls across the State will be held on November 27 and results will be declared on December 2.
