Former Tripura Chief Minister says attempts being made to prevent CPI(M)-led Left Front candidates from filing papers, points to Jirania and Mohanpur

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 5, 2026

Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Saturday alleged that Opposition candidates were being intimidated and obstructed from filing their nomination papers for the September 28 elections to the Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

With the nomination process entering its final days, Mr. Sarkar said attempts to create difficulties for Opposition candidates were particularly visible in Jirania and Mohanpur. The last date for filing nominations is September 8.

“Compared to previous days, we are directly witnessing attempts to create problems while Opposition candidates are filing nomination papers,” Mr. Sarkar said, according to party-level accounts of his remarks.

He said the CPI(M) was gathering information from different areas and that the situation would become clearer over the next few days. Jampuijala, in particular, would require closer observation, he said.

Mr. Sarkar was on his way to the party office to collect further details when he spoke about the developments. He indicated that the party would make a fuller assessment after receiving reports from its local units.

The former Chief Minister also sought to project the alleged difficulties as a test of the Opposition's organisational strength. Despite what he described as pressure and intimidation, he claimed that people were showing greater courage and were willing to participate in the electoral process.

According to Mr. Sarkar, the response from voters and Opposition supporters was different from what had been witnessed in some previous elections. People, he said, were attempting to overcome the obstacles rather than withdraw from the contest.

The allegations come at a politically sensitive time in Tripura. The Village Committee elections are being held amid renewed political activity in the State's tribal areas. The BJP and its ally, the Tipra Motha Party, have also been engaged in discussions ahead of the polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Manik Saha and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma met in New Delhi on Friday, triggering speculation about the electoral understanding between the two parties.

Mr. Sarkar suggested that political equations could have a bearing on the Opposition's prospects. He cautioned that an open or informal understanding among two or three parties could emerge with the objective of weakening the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

“There is no reason to believe that they will not try to prevent the Opposition, particularly the CPI(M), through an open or covert understanding,” he said.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front, which had a long-standing presence in the TTAADC, has faced setbacks in recent electoral contests. The 2026 TTAADC elections saw the Tipra Motha Party win 24 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP won four; the Left Front failed to win a seat.

The Village Committee elections therefore assume significance for the CPI(M), which is seeking to rebuild its organisation in the tribal areas. The ability to field candidates across constituencies is particularly important for the Opposition as the nomination deadline approaches.

Mr. Sarkar, however, stopped short of giving a final assessment of the situation. He said more information was required from party workers and local areas before the CPI(M) could draw conclusions about the extent of the alleged obstruction.

The next three days are consequently expected to be crucial. Apart from determining the final list of candidates, the nomination process could provide an early indication of the organisational strength of the competing parties and the nature of the political contest ahead of the September 28 poll.

Mr. Sarkar maintained that the Opposition would not retreat in the face of the reported difficulties.

“This is a struggle,” he said, calling upon party workers and supporters to continue with the electoral battle despite the challenges.

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