Congress MLA and an invitee member of Congress Working Committee Sudip Roy Barman has reiterated his demand for fresh elections in the West Tripura parliamentary constituency and Ramnagar assembly constituency stating that the whole election process was turned into a farce through “false voting” and denying genuine voters their right cast votes.

The Congress MLA shared a list of 579 polling booths where according to him, the polls were completely rigged. He also alleged that the AROs of certain districts forced the micro observers to change their original reports that detailed poll-related malpractices occurred on the day of polls.

In a letter addressed to Chief Electoral Officer Tripura, the Congress MLA said, “I had the opportunity to interact with many micro observers and was shocked to learn from them that the AROs of South, Gomati and Sepahijala forced them to change their reports of massive false voting in as many as 400 polling booths in those districts. This amply proves that a section of the officials were hand in gloves in converting the elections to a mere farce and a sham in the name of democracy.”

He also raised questions on the CEO’s argument of EDC (Election Duty Certificate) voting that led to more than 100 per cent voting in certain polling stations.

Expressing his reservation over the CEO’s justification, Barman said, “For instance, in 10/44 male voters in the electoral roll is 277 and female voters 268. Total voters 545. But male voters casting was reflected as 320 i.e. 43 more. Am I to believe that 43 EDC Voters were present in a booth comprising 545 voters? Likewise, in 10/24 male voters were 373 but voting was done by 435 voters i.e. 62 EDC voting took place. In 1/39, 364 male voters exist but the voting of male voters was 523 i.e. 159 EDC voters. In 2/38 out of 231 male electors, voting took place 263 i.e. 32 EDC voters?”

He also cited instances of a number of polling booths where more than 100 per cent polling was recorded.

“In 7/48 out of 289 male electors, the turn up was 308 i.e. 19 more and in 7/49 out of 257 male electors, the casting was 273 i.e. 16 EDC voters? In 12/10 total number of electors is 662 but the vote casted is 997 i.e 275 more. In 16/6 all the 911 voters cast their votes but there were more than 47 electors who were either dead, shifted or outside the state in 16/42 total number of voters was 798 but the vote was 901 i.e. 103 EDC voters. In 23/12 male voters 236 and casting was 244 i.e. 8 EDC voters but scrutiny reveals that OSD voters are 29. These are some of the glaring examples of the election being a complete farce and your good office wants to project the same as a free and fair poll,” the letter reads.

 Attaching a list of 579 polling booths, Barman said, that in those particular polling booths, the elections were rigged.

“Apart from all these, innumerable voters were obstructed/ refrained from voting and no police or election machinery was available to ensure that they too could exercise their franchise. I am enclosing herewith 579 polling booths where the election was rigged through false voting and obstruction/disallowance of electors for you to take necessary action,” the letter added.

 According to the Congress MLA, the election conducting body had resorted to step motherly attitude towards the opposition party on the day of the West Tripura polls.

“Prior to the election to 1- 1-Tripura West Parliamentary Constituency you had assured the INC delegation of 3 layer security system which you could not provide but were happy to see the same being available in 2-Tripura East Parliamentary Constituency. Why is this step-motherly attitude rendered to us? Was it to facilitate the former Chief Minister for a smooth passage by means of rigging through false voting, threatening our polling agents and their families and obstructing the voters? I, on behalf of the INC demand for a complete re-poll in the entire 1- Tripura West Parliamentary Constituency along with 7-Ramnagar Assembly Constituency,” the letter further added.