Manik Dey Alleges Police and Election Commission Failed to Implement High Court Order, Left Front Candidates Unable to File Nominations in Five Sub-Divisions

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 6, 2026

Despite an explicit direction from the High Court of Tripura to the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure adequate security for CPI(M)-sponsored candidates to submit their nomination papers in five sensitive sub-divisions, Left Front candidates allegedly remained unable to file their nominations in several areas as the nomination deadline expired on Friday. Left Front Convenor Manik Dey alleged that neither Tripura Police nor the State Election Commission made adequate special security arrangements to implement the High Court's order, resulting in opposition candidates being deprived of the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming civic body elections.

Addressing the issue, Manik Dey alleged that even after the High Court's clear direction, the police administration and election authorities failed to ensure a secure environment for Left Front candidates in Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Kamalpur and Santirbazar. According to him, candidates in these five sub-divisions could not submit their nomination papers despite the court's intervention specifically intended to remove security-related obstacles and protect their democratic right to contest elections.

The controversy follows the High Court's order in WP(C) No. 812 of 2026, passed on November 6 by a division bench. The order was passed by Hon'ble Mr. Justice S Datta Purkayastha. The court directed the DGP, Tripura, to make necessary security arrangements and ensure that intending candidates sponsored by the CPI(M), petitioner No. 1, could submit their nomination papers without any hindrance in Jirania, Ranirbazar, Mohanpur, Santirbazar and Kamalpur.

The court specifically recognised that contesting an election is a democratic right and directed that the order be communicated to the DGP immediately for compliance. The last date for filing nominations was November 6, up to 3:00 PM.

However, Manik Dey claimed that the judicial direction remained ineffective on the ground, as no adequate special security arrangements were made to facilitate the nomination process. He questioned how candidates could exercise their democratic rights when, despite approaching the High Court and obtaining a specific security direction, they allegedly continued to face obstruction and threats.

The Left Front Convenor has demanded an extension of the nomination filing deadline, arguing that candidates who were allegedly prevented from submitting their papers because of security problems should not be deprived of their opportunity to contest the elections. He demanded that the Election Commission take immediate steps to provide a fresh opportunity to the affected candidates through an extension of the nomination period.

Manik Dey also alleged that attacks and intimidation against Left Front candidates continued at different places on Friday. He further claimed that BJP-associated miscreants threatened Left Front candidates and workers, warning them against conducting door-to-door election campaigns in Agartala.

The allegations have raised further questions about the security environment surrounding the forthcoming Urban Local Body elections, particularly regarding the protection of opposition candidates during nomination filing and subsequent election campaigning. The Left Front has maintained that merely issuing election notifications and announcing nomination schedules cannot ensure democratic participation unless candidates are provided with adequate security and a fair opportunity to contest.

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