Agartala, Nov 6: The Tripura High Court has directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure adequate security for Left Front candidates allegedly facing difficulties in filing nomination papers for the November 27 urban local body elections.
The direction came after the CPI(M) moved the High Court, alleging that its candidates were being prevented from submitting nomination papers in Mohanpur and four other subdivisions due to an atmosphere of intimidation and inadequate security arrangements.
Hearing Writ Petition No. 812/2024, Justice Sabyasachi Datta Purkayastha directed the DGP to take immediate steps to provide necessary police protection to the affected candidates and facilitate the filing of their nomination papers within the stipulated deadline.
The court instructed the police administration to ensure that the candidates could complete the nomination process in a secure environment by Friday.
The petition alleged that several prospective Left Front candidates were unable to reach nomination centres safely because of security concerns, thereby affecting their right to participate in the electoral process.
Senior advocate Tapas Datta Majumdar, appearing for the CPI(M), submitted that the lack of adequate security arrangements had adversely affected opposition candidates seeking to file nominations in several municipal and urban local body constituencies.
The court stressed the need to ensure that eligible candidates could exercise their democratic rights without fear, obstruction or hindrance. It observed that providing a secure atmosphere during the nomination period was an essential responsibility of the state administration and police machinery.
The High Court’s intervention comes amid allegations by opposition parties that their candidates were facing intimidation and obstruction in certain areas during the nomination process ahead of the civic elections.
The CPI(M) and other opposition parties have raised concerns over the alleged difficulties, while the state election authorities have maintained that necessary security arrangements have been made to facilitate the nomination process.
The court’s directive puts the responsibility on the state police leadership to ensure that candidates facing security concerns can submit their nomination papers within the prescribed timeframe.
The November 27 elections will be held across urban local bodies in Tripura, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation, as political parties complete their preparations for the civic polls.
