Tripura Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Saturday said that the CPIM party would pitch for ‘accountable’ and ‘democratic’ administration in the ensuing urban local body polls. 

Interacting with the media persons on the party’s preparedness for the ensuing urban local body polls, Chaudhury said, “The party has been busy with the recently concluded village committee elections but preparations for the forthcoming urban body polls had been started at various levels of the organisation. We are getting ready to contest in 100 percent of the seats.” 

Taking a dig at the ruling BJP, the senior CPIM leader alleged that in the last eight and half years, the democratic fabric of the state has come under attack. “Money is being spent like water but what the people living in the urban centers of the state getting in return is not at all satisfactory. An uneasy situation has prevailed all over and the BJP workers who are often branded as saintly volunteers by their leaders are running a commission racket,” claimed Chaudhury.  

According to Chaudhury, the primary task is to build ‘accountable’ and ‘democratic’ administrations in the urban local bodies. 

He said issues such as roads, proper drainage system, electricity and overall civic life upliftment shall form the main poll issues. 

He also demanded an impartial investigation into the September 28 shooting of a Tipra Motha candidate and two others during the Village Committee elections in Gomati district. 

The CPI(M) leader questioned the initial statements by BJP general secretary Bipul Debbarma and state president Abhishek Debroy, who had described the incident as a conspiracy. 

Chaudhury asked the BJP leaders to clarify who was behind the conspiracy and disclose the identities and affiliations of those arrested in connection with the shooting.

The CPI(M) leader thanked the Gomati district administration and police for their subsequent action in the case. He said the investigation should establish the identities of those arrested, who had allegedly sent them to the area and whether others were involved in the incident.