Tripura civic polls: Supreme Court directs Centre to immediately deploy additional forces

The Supreme Court's direction comes amid the ongoing Tripura municipal elections that have been marred in political violence among the ruling BJP, TMC and CPI(M).

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre and the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC) to "immediately" deploy two additional forces for ensuring free and fair civic body elections in Tripura. The apex court has asked the Union home ministry to provide two additional companies of the Central Armed Police Forces.

Security personnel at a distribution centre in Agartala ahead of the Tripura Municipal Corporation elections.(HT_PRINT)

The order comes amid the ongoing voting for Tripura municipal elections marred in political violence.

Earlier today, Trinamool Congress officials claimed that one of their party workers was beaten up in ward number 5 in the state capital of Agartala. CPI(M) state secretary Jiten Chaudhary also alleged that the ruling BJP was indulging in voter intimidation in south Tripura district and obstructing party workers from functioning freely. However, the ruling party denied these allegations.

“Utsaber mejaj e vote hocche (Vote is going on in a celebratory spirit)," BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The run-up to Tripura civic polls became a cause celebre due to violence, arrests, sit-ins in the national capital of Delhi and with the Supreme Court intervening to ask officials to ensure peaceful polling.

A three-way battle is underway in the north-eastern state, which saw TMC sending its top leaders to Tripura and BJP fighting back politically, while the CPI(M) tries to regain foot.

The polls were announced by Tripura State Election Commission (SEC) to 20 urban local bodies, including Agartala Municipal Corporation in all the eight districts in the state.

The counting of votes will take place on November 28.