Agartala: The opposition Congress Party in Tripura has accused the BJP’s East Tripura candidate of engaging in poll malpractice. According to Congress, the BJP candidate used different surnames in the electoral rolls of Chhattisgarh and Tripura, which they claim amounts to election fraud.
A delegation of Congress leaders, led by Salman Khurshid, met with officials of the Election Commission of India and submitted a letter detailing the alleged election malpractice committed by the BJP candidate, who is also the elder sister of Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman.
“We write to you with great urgency to bring to your notice an instance of undisguised and blatant electoral malpractice committed by Smt. Kriti Devi Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate from the Tripura East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency for the 18th Lok Sabha Elections. Smt. Kriti Singh, in her Election Affidavit filed at the time of her nomination as the BJP candidate from the Tripura East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency, has claimed that her name is Kriti Devi Debbarman and that her name is enrolled in the electoral roll of the Kawardha Assembly Constituency, Chhattisgarh. However, as per the election affidavit submitted by Smt. Kriti Singh in 2018 declaring her candidature from Kawardha Assembly Constituency during the Chhattisgarh State Assembly Elections, Smt. Kriti Singh gave her full name as Kriti Devi Singh. Further, even in her election affidavit declaring her nomination from the Tripura East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency, while submitting the details of her Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the status of filing of income tax return, it is evident that her name as per her PAN details is Kriti Singh,” the letter reads which enclosed the affidavits of both the elections.
The Congress also alleged that the use of the surname Debbarman was intended to exploit the sentiments of the tribal people of Tripura, the majority of whom belong to the Tripuri tribe.
“On no previous occasion has Smt. Kriti Singh used the surname Debbarman in her election affidavit or in any official documentation or Government ID. It is submitted that Smt. Kriti Singh has deliberately used the surname Debbarman in an attempt to secure a larger voter-share in her bid to be elected from the Tripura East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. It is submitted that these malafide actions on the part of Smt. Kriti Singh are in direct violation of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct issued by this Hon’ble Commission as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the letter further added.
Calling it a corrupt practice, the Congress memorandum reads: “As per the Model Code of Conduct, Political Parties and their candidates cannot use Caste or Communal identity as a means to appeal to the electorate in a bid to secure votes. Further, candidates are also expressly barred from indulging in any activity which has been categorized as a corrupt practice.”
The Congress party demanded a penalty for filing manipulative affidavits.
Responding to the demand raised by the Congress party, Tipra Motha Supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman sought to downplay the allegations and stated that according to Indian customs, daughters adopt the surname of their husbands after marriage.
Debbarman said, “This is a common practice in India. Even Indira Gandhi adopted the Gandhi surname after marrying Feroze Gandhi. So is the case of Sonia Gandhi.”
Debbarman urged voters to participate in the elections and called upon the Election Commission to ensure adequate facilities, including shelters and water, for voters amidst the prevailing heatwave in Tripura.
Also Read: Assam: Forum concerned over settlement of Chakmas, Hajongs