The second of filing nomination papers for three-tier Panchayat elections on Friday marred the spirit of the democratic festival and opposition parties alleged that their candidates and supporters were attacked and forcefully stopped them to file nomination papers.

Demanding free and fair elections and a conducive atmosphere across Tripura for democratic participation of opposition parties, Tripura Pradesh Congress on Friday evening met the DGP at police headquarters in Agartala and demanded an impartial role of police administration.

After the deputation, Tripura Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha alleged that a suffocating environment prevails across Tripura and all democratic rights of opposition parties have been snatched by the miscreants of the ruling party.

After attacked in all party meeting in different blocks of the state, the BJP supporters are continuing their attacks on Congress candidate and in many places on Friday they obstructed party candidates to file their nomination papers and after physically attacked on them, miscreants has also snatched the nomination papers, said Saha and added that attacks on Congress supporters committed in front of police forces and they became silent spectators.

Congress urged the DGP to maintain the impartial role of police administration else Congress will organize mass protest in front of police headquarters, said Saha. PCC president also alleged that ruling BJP “goons” have been targeting their candidates and Congress supporters since the Panchayat poll date was announced on Wednesday.

However, the Congress leaders vowed that the party would undertake all out efforts to prevent these unfair tactics and ensure their (Congress) candidates can contest the election fairly.

“We have been witnessing an unprecedented wave of violence and intimidation against our supporters and candidates by the BJP goons and activists,” Saha said adding: “This is a blatant attempt by the ruling party to undermine the democratic process and intimidate opposition candidates.”

Earlier, on Friday morning, when CPI(M) supporters led by former MLA Sudhan Das tried to submit their nomination papers at Rajnagar RD block in South Tripura district, a group of miscreants attacked on them and started stone-pelting targeting CPI(M) workers, as a result many CPI(M) supporters including Sudhan Das suffered injuries.

Later, CPI(M) organized a road blockade in front of Rajnagar block demanding protection for political rights of opposition parties.

Opposition CPI(M) on alleged that despite free and fair poll assurance by the State Election Commission (SEC), miscreants owing allegiance with ruling party has attacked their party supporters and leaders during all party meeting at Satchanda, Tepania, Charilam, Bishalgarh, Mohanpur, Boxanagar, Dukli, Kalyapur, Bishalgarh and Salema blocks under different districts of the state and they continues their attacks during filling of nomination papers on Friday also.

“When party leaders and candidates tried to submit their nomination papers, miscreants in groups snatched nomination papers and attacked them in front of poll officials and police personnel,” said CPI(M) through a statement and has alleged that their party leaders were abused and physically attacked in places , when they tried to file nomination papers.

But, in some parts of the state, opposition CPI(M) and Congress candidates managed to file their nomination papers in respective Returning Officers (ROs).

CPI(M) alleged that  miscreants obstructed their party supporters and leaders in front of many blocks and has also snatched their nomination papers.

Both CPI(M) and Congress urged the SEC to ensure a conducive atmosphere for participation of all political parties in August 8 Panchayat elections . CPI(M) has also reiterated their demand for submission of nomination papers online.

While, 33 candidates from the Left Front submitted their nomination papers for Paschim Tripura Zilla Parishad and South Tripura Zilla Parishad seats on Thursday.

Senior CPI(M) leader Pabitra Kar said 33 Left Front candidates submitted their papers for the two Zilla Parishads before the Returning Officer.

He said that the Left Front has plans to file papers for all seats of the three-tier Panchayats by July 18, the final date for nominations.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury on Friday strongly  criticised the prevailing situation in Tripura under BJP rule, alleging an increase in smuggling, human trafficking, and institutional corruption.

He urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election across the three-tier panchayat system.

"I appeal to all to unite against the BJP in these elections to safeguard democracy, especially in the changed political landscape post the Lok Sabha elections. Despite expecting to win over 400 seats, the saffron party barely managed to form the government in Delhi," he remarked.

He  claimed that tensions are rising ahead of the Panchayat elections as the ruling BJP, having failed to deliver its many promises to the people, lacks a substantial voter base and is resorting to violence to instill fear and manipulate the rural poll outcome.

In the last Panchayat elections held on July 27, 2019, the ruling BJP had won more than 95 per cent of the seats of which 86 per cent were unopposed, leading to an outcry from Opposition parties.

The Opposition parties have been demanding holding of Panchayat elections with maximum security and allowing filling of nomination papers through email.

With 33 per cent reservation of seats for women, there are 6,370 seats in 606 Gram Panchayats, 423 seats in 35 Panchayat Samitis and 116 seats in eight Zilla Parishads.