Tripura civic polls: BJP wins 77 of 345 seats unopposed as CPI(M), Congress allege intimidation

The ruling BJP has won 77 of the 345 seats in Tripura's urban local body elections without a contest, after the nomination process for the 27 November polls concluded on 10 November. The opposition CPI(M) and Congress have alleged that their candidates were intimidated into pulling out, a charge the State Election Commission (SEC) has said its initial inquiries did not bear out.

According to State Election Commissioner P K Chakraborty, 810 candidates remain in the fray for the remaining 268 seats across the state's 21 civic bodies, including the 51-ward Agartala Municipal Corporation. Of the unopposed seats, 65 are in five bodies, namely Kamalpur, Santir Bazar, Ranir Bazar, Jirania and Mohanpur, while 12 more are in Ambassa, Teliamura and Bishalgarh. Counting is due in early December.

Opposition's allegations

CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury alleged that ruling party workers attacked opposition candidates and supporters and forced some to sign withdrawal papers, with more than 20 Left Front members injured in incidents across districts, according to reports. He alleged that written complaints to the police and the SEC went unaddressed. Congress leaders made similar allegations of threats and violence aimed at the electoral process.

Chaudhury singled out Ambassa in Dhalai district, alleging that party candidates there were made to withdraw on 10 November under threat.

Election Commission's response

The SEC sought reports from the district magistrate and superintendent of police of Dhalai district on the Ambassa complaints. According to reports, the preliminary findings did not show any such incidents in Ambassa or elsewhere in the district, and the Commissioner described the coercion complaints as lacking legal basis. The BJP's response to the specific allegations was not carried in the reports reviewed.

Nomination figures show the BJP fielded 342 candidates, against 218 from the CPI(M) and 201 from the Congress, according to Northeast News.

Why it matters

Seats won without a vote have become a recurring flashpoint in civic and panchayat elections in several states, with opposition parties often arguing that they point to a pressured environment and ruling parties citing organisational strength. In Tripura, the 27 November vote across 16 bodies will be the first electoral test for parties in the state since these allegations surfaced.