NEW DELHI: The CPM has approached the Election Commission of India to draw its attention to certain “major corrupt practices which the BJP is indulging in, in the run-up to the Tripura Assembly elections.”
In a meeting between chief election commissioner Om Prakash and CPM Central Committee member Nilotpal Basu on Thursday, the latter referred to objectionable social media ads, the BJP’s promise of delivering 7th Pay Commission using the Tripura Governor’s photograph, malfunctioning EVMs in mockpolls in Tripura, and a uncertified film ‘Lal Sarkar’, being screened as part of BJP’s campaign material in the northeastern state.

Basu said the BJP’s social media campaign page showed an advertisement “published for non-resident voters from outside the state with a promise for free train travel to Tripura by showing their voter ID cards, posing this as a ‘gift’ from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Referring to the advert as a violation of Section 123 (5) and punishable under Section 133 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the CPM has also provided copies of the advertisement to the CEC.

The CPM leader also drew attention to the mock polling with an EVM in Tripura’s Ampinagar assembly constituency, where “the machine was Recording Votes for the lotus symbol, regardless of the buttons pressed. The officials in-charge of the demonstration accepted the malfunctioning of the machine.”
In his letter to the CEC, Basu said, “While there is no difficulty in accepting malfunction of the machines, what is surprising why do all malfunctions end up in recording votes for the ‘lotus’. Not only do we urge you to ensure that there should not be any single malfunction at the time of actual polls, but to inspire confidence among the voters, at least for 20% of the booths, both their EVM records and the VVPAT records must be tallied during counting.”
The CPM also expressed shock that BJP’s campaign booklet on Seventh Pay Commission used a photograph of the Tripura Governor. “We need not repeat the role of the Governor as a Constitutional functionary; therefore, this thoroughly unacceptable conduct of the BJP needs to be immediately stopped by public denouncement and seizure of this publicity material,” Basu said.
Source : timesofindia