Tripura CM Criticizes TMC Over Bengal Panchayat Polls Violence

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has accused the TMC of perpetrating violence during the panchayat polls in West Bengal, and asked his counterpart Mamata Banerjee to "learn" from the northeastern state on "how to ensure free, fair and peaceful” elections.

Saha also expressed shock over the death of 12 people during the rural polls in West Bengal, and alleged that reports of violence reflect that "democracy is being murdered there". "Shocking reports coming from West Bengal reflect democracy is being murdered there…! TMC goons in Panchayat polls under the regime of West Bengal Chief Minister @MamataOfficial Ji are restricting people to participate in the democratic festival & creating a tensed environment through violence," he tweeted on Saturday.

"I strongly condemn the violence perpetrated by the TMC hooligans & invite Mamata Ji to learn from #Tripura how to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections,” Saha said. The BJP won 95 per cent of the seats in the three-tier panchayat elections in Tripura unopposed in 2019.

The rural polls in Bengal drew towards a bloody finish as 12 people died, bombs exploded and all parties levelled allegations of strong-arm tactics against their rivals on Saturday. Eight from the ruling Trinamool Congress and one worker each of the BJP, CPI(M), Congress and the ISF lost their lives, officials said.