Alleging massive rigging, the CPI(M) and the Congress on Thursday demanded repolling in many booths in the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency. They said the malpractices had the support of the security establishment and the administration, and the Election Commission had not taken steps for free and fair polls.
The poll percentage was 81.23 at 5 p.m., election officials said.
The CPI(M) demanded repolling in 460 of the total 1,679 polling stations. Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who is in Tripura, urged the Commission to take appropriate action, saying that the election had been reduced to a “farce” in the State.
Mr. Yechury was present at the CPI(M) press briefing, which was attended by party candidate Shankar Prasad Datta and State secretary Gautam Das.
The Congress accused the BJP of rigging, attack and intimidation across the constituency. Party candidate Subal Bhowmik alleged that the election officials and observers and central forces were not seen in the booths that were “captured”.
Mr. Bhowmik echoed the CPI(M) allegation of expulsion of polling agents from most booths. CCTV cameras were damaged to hide the misdeeds, he added.
