Former Tripura chief minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Monday  alleged that Left parties were prevented from fielding candidates in all the seats for the upcoming ADC Village Committee elections and urged voters to exercise their franchise freely.

Addressing an election meeting at Mohanbhog, Sarkar alleged that pressure was exerted on candidates in several constituencies, forcing some of them to withdraw despite their willingness to contest. He said, “CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI(ML) had jointly managed to field 2,004 candidates despite the alleged pressure.” 

Sarkar claimed that the BJP and Tipra Motha had expected that no candidates other than those backed by the two parties would remain in the electoral contest, but that this had not happened.

He urged the authorities to ensure that voters were able to cast their votes properly, saying any obstruction would undermine the democratic process.

Sarkar also referred to recent political developments in the country and claimed that they indicated a change in the political situation. He said, “Farmers and workers are preparing to raise their demands through protests and in the face of it the BJP-led central government is facing a tough challenge.”

He further alleged that Tipra Motha was attempting to create divisions between Bengalis and tribal communities, while the BJP was seeking to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims.

“Both parties have their own ways of divisive politics and in order to gain political mileage, they would continue creating divisions and incite violence,” he added. 

Sarkar appealed to party workers, supporters and voters to treat the election as a decisive opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.

Among those present at the meeting were CPI(M) Sonamura subdivision secretary and MLA Shyamal Chakraborty, state committee members Ratan Saha and Suresh Das and other party leaders.

At the beginning of the meeting, candidates from Anandapur, Urmai and South Taibandal villages were introduced to the gathering.