SC rejects priority hearing on fresh poll demand of Tripura CPI(M)
Agartala, : Following acceptance of the petition of fresh poll in West Tripura parliamentary constituency by opposition CPI (M) candidate Shankar Prasad Datta in the Supreme Court, Left Front has announced to continue its agitation towards the demand.
While accepting the case, Supreme Court had declined to entertain the petition on priority basis and stated that it would be heard in usual course. After acceptance of the case, left parties held protest march in the city and later in the rally the front leaders reiterated that their agitation would be continued for fresh polling.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi rejected CPI (M)’s appeal of hearing the petition on priority basis as re-polls were scheduled on May 12 next. However, the court did not reject the petition and said that matter would be heard in normal course.
Left Front Chairman Bijan Dhar told media though the Supreme Court has deferred the hearing, the Left Front will fight the re-elections with its best possible strength and also once again pleaded the Chief Electoral Officer and Returning Officer of West Tripura constituency to ensure that the ‘mismanagement’ which occurred in the first phase of elections should not repeat.
The CEO was urged to install video recording devices outside of the polling booths and take necessary steps to prevent threat and intimidations to the voters, Dhar said adding, “Earlier we expressed our disappointment over the decision of EC to hold re-polls only in 168 booths among the total 1679 booths, whereas the entire polling on April 11 was total farce as ruling BJP made mass rigging and large-scale violence.”
(UNI)