CPI (M) candidate moves High Court seeking fresh poll in West Tripura

Agartala, May 16 (UNI): With the directives of the Supreme Court, CPI (M) candidate in West Tripura parliamentary constituency Shankar Prasad Datta has filed a Writ Petition (WP) to Tripura High Court seeking appropriate direction to hold election to the seat afresh.

In the petition Datta demanded to discard the election held in first phase on April 11 last and order for fresh polling.

On the announcement of repoll in 168 polling stations of West Tripura by ECI, Datta had moved Supreme Court and sought priority hearing of the case but the apex court rejected it.

However, hearing the petition in the vacation bench Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Sanjeev Khanna asked the petitioner to file the case before the High Court. Accordingly, Datta filed the petition yesterday seeking fresh poll in the seat and withdrawn the petition from the apex court.

Presenting his argument in favour of the writ, the petitioner stated that report of the returning officer of the constituency there were massive rigging and malpractices in the first phase election. The statement of CEO and subsequent action of ECI has also established it. But, the returning officer mentioned in his report that though election was vitiated in 433 booths,the ECI ordered repoll only in 168.

We wanted to know from ECI, how come they reached the figure of 168 for repoll and why election to rest of the booths was not accepted. But the ECI responded properly, which established that the demonstration of democracy was not proper in West Tripura.

We have no option left except to seek justice from the court, Datta said.

The Supreme Court declined to allow an urgent hearing on the writ petition challenging ECI decision of re-polls in the constituency and the Chief Justice Rajan Gogoi rejeced the plea and said the court finds no urgency in the petition.

Meanwhile, Tripura PCC vice- president Pijush Kanti Biswas said that on behalf of AICC senior leader Joyram Ramesh had filed the writ petition seeking the SCs intervention for ordering re-poll in 433 polling stations in the apex court, which would be heard in a day or two. The Congress has also asked CEO to provide them the video footage of all 433 polling booths, which would be used as their evidence.

On the other hand, a CPI (M) delegation met CEO Sriram Taranikanti today and demanded strong security arrangement for counting process. They also sought urgent action against post poll violence in the state. They demanded to provide security for the counting agents of the opposition parties, as ruling party miscreants have been threatening the opposition workers.