By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | April 9, 2026
AGARTALA: Accusing the State Election Commission (SEC) of conspiring to turn the upcoming TTAADC General Elections into a “farce,” the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) launched a massive protest today. Hundreds of party workers and senior leaders gheraoed the SEC office in Agartala, demanding immediate transparency regarding the security of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all polling booths.
The protest, led by TPCC President Asish Kumar Saha, saw supporters braving police barricades to submit a memorandum addressed to the State Election Commissioner.
Allegations of a “Hateful Conspiracy”
The Congress leadership alleged that the current security arrangements for the April 12 polls are insufficient and “deliberately porous” to favor the ruling party. The party called for a “Mass Resistance” (Gana Pratirodh) against what they termed a deep-seated conspiracy to manipulate the tribal council mandate.
Key Security Demands Raised:
- CCTV Surveillance: Mandatory 24/7 CCTV coverage and live webcasting in all 28 constituencies, not just “sensitive” booths, to prevent booth-level intimidation.
- EVM Integrity: Clarification on the source and “First Level Checking” (FLC) of EVMs, amid rumors of machines being brought in from BJP-ruled states without adequate cross-verification.
- VVPAT Transparency: Ensuring that every voter can verify their paper slip, and demanding a higher percentage of VVPAT slip counting to match the EVM totals.
- Neutrality of Officials: Immediate removal of sector officers and polling personnel who are allegedly active members of ruling party-affiliated unions.
“We Will Not Let the Mandate Be Stolen”: Asish Kumar Saha
Addressing the gathering outside the SEC office, TPCC President Asish Kumar Saha warned that the Congress would not be a silent spectator if the democratic process is subverted.
”The State Election Commission is behaving like a wing of the ruling party. By refusing to guarantee 100% CCTV coverage and being vague about EVM safety, they are inviting electoral violence. This is not just an election; it is a battle to save the Constitution in the hills. We are calling upon the people to form ‘Resistance Committees’ at every booth to guard their votes,” Saha asserted.
Administrative Stand-off
The protest led to a significant traffic gridlock in the heart of the capital for several hours. While the SEC officials met with a small delegation of Congress leaders, the party expressed dissatisfaction with the “verbal assurances” provided.
Congress leaders noted that similar concerns were recently raised by the CPI(M), suggesting a growing consensus among opposition parties regarding the potential for poll-day irregularities. The TPCC has threatened to escalate the protest to a “State-wide Strike” if their technical demands regarding EVM and CCTV monitoring are not met by the 48-hour campaign silence period.
