BJP Refutes Allegations Of Obstructing Opposition In Tripura Panchayat Elections

BJP accused the Opposition of paying individuals to run with their symbols to feign competitiveness

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura has refuted allegations made by the Opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CIP-M) and Congress, which accused it of preventing their candidates and supporters from filing nomination papers for the forthcoming Panchayat elections.

Oppositions’ allegations come after BJP has won 71 per cent of the seats uncontested. It won 4,800 seats of the total 6,889 seats in the Panchayat system, which comprises gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads.

In a press conference held at the party headquarters, Tripura BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, accompanied by the party’s general secretaries, dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Bhattacharjee stated that the Opposition parties were fabricating these accusations to cover up their deficiencies and create a narrative for not participating in the polls.

“In the 70 per cent seats, where BJP won uncontested, Oppositions does not have a strong grip. They are very weak. Elections are around the corner and they do not even have candidates to field. So, by making such accusations against the BJP, they are covering up their deficiencies and fabricating a story to justify their abstention from the elections,” said Bhattacharjee.

Citing the recent Parliamentary elections in Tripura, where the BJP secured record-breaking victory margins in both seats– Tripura East and Tripura West, Bhattacharjee stated that the results demonstrate the Opposition’s lack of support and candidates.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have alleged that their candidates were physically assaulted and that numerous houses were torched by miscreants to intimidate them from participating in the Panchayat elections.

Elections to 2084 Panchayat seats will be held on August 8 and results will be declared on August 12.

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