Situation not conducive for free polls in Chhattisgarh: CPI

Communist Party of India has said the situation in Chhattisgarh was not conducive for free and fair polls as the police were working like agents of the Congress Govt.

Communist Party of India on Friday said the situation in Chhattisgarh was not conducive for free and fair polls as collectors and superintendents of police were working like agents of the Congress government and harassing opposition candidates.

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"On November 11, our Pilkha candidate Birbal Tirkey was picked up and the SP and collectors of Sarguja threatened him to withdraw his candidature against state Agriculture minister Prem Sai Singh," CPI general secretary AB Bardhan told reporters in Raipur.

"How could they pick up Tirkey when he was campaigning in a vehicle with party flags and detained him at a police station for nine hours saying he was a Naxalite," he said.

"Is this the way to conduct the free and fair polls and are they an agent of the minister," he said, adding, they have already complained to the Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh about the incident.

Tirkey's detention was a clear reflection of the biased attitude of the officials, he said, and added, there were several complaints against Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and his administration.

He said they were not having any poll alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI, CPI-M and the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha had formed a left front to contest the December 1 poll.