Free and fair election not possible in Tripura, CPM cadres under threat: Sitaram Yechury

AGARTALA: Free and fair elections are not possible in Tripura under current circumstances, said Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

“Situation in Tripura is such that no free and fair election is possible. The atmosphere of terror is widespread. Markets haven't opened. People aren't coming out to buy their daily requirements. In such situation to expect a free and fair election is preposterous,” said Sitaram Yechury on Sunday.

“Our party cadre are under constant threat. Till you restore normalcy Charilam election should be postponed but EC refused. So in that situation it will be exposing more of our people for more harm. This is anti-democratic and this election will be a farce,” said Yechury.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies demolished the last Left Front bastion in the country in March, securing a majority in the 60-member Assembly. The Left Front was ousted from power in the state after 25 years by the BJP wave. 

Following the ouster of the Manik Sarkar government in the state, Marxist icon Vladimir Lenin’s statue was demolished. 

Yechury has blamed the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for incidents of violence, adding that people of Tripura would give and answer to them.

“Violence in Tripura shows the inclination of RSS and BJP. There is no political future for them other than violence. People of Tripura will give an answer to them,” he said.