Agartala, March 25, 2026: The Left Front on Tuesday demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces at every polling booth for the upcoming TTAADC and by-elections, expressing serious concern over the prevailing law and order situation and the prospects of free and fair polls.

Addressing a press conference, Left Front Convener Manik Dey said that elections in the state, once known for their festive atmosphere prior to 2018, have since lost that character. He stressed the urgent need for corrective measures to restore confidence among voters.

Dey alleged that the elections are being held under “unprecedented circumstances,” with reports of attacks on opposition parties emerging from different parts of the state. “In such a situation, the environment necessary for free, fair and peaceful elections does not exist,” he said, demanding deployment of central forces in every booth and intensified patrolling in sensitive areas.

He further informed that the Left Front has submitted proposals to introduce webcasting and scanner systems at polling stations to ensure transparency. The alliance has also urged authorities to guarantee equal campaigning opportunities for all political parties, alleging that opposition programmes have faced obstruction in certain areas. These concerns have been formally conveyed to the Election Commission of India.

The Left leadership also demanded provision of Personal Security Officers (PSOs) for candidates and security arrangements for polling agents to ensure they can perform their duties without hindrance. Additionally, they called for clear instructions to SDPOs to prevent disruption of political activities in designated areas.

Milan Baidya, State Secretary of CPI, said the primary objective is to ensure voters can exercise their franchise in a peaceful and festive environment. He urged the police to act proactively and curb the alleged influence of money power in elections.

Meanwhile, CPIM state Secretary and MLA Jitendra Chaudhury stated that the demands are aimed at safeguarding democratic rights. He reiterated that the festive nature of elections prior to 2018 has disappeared and emphasized that restoring a free and peaceful electoral process is now a pressing necessity.

Chaudhury also alleged that during the ongoing Assembly session, the ruling party did not give due importance to concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition regarding election conduct. He further claimed that the Speaker did not take initiative on the matter, prompting the Left to escalate the issue to the Election Commission.

Among others present at the press conference were Dipak Deb and Raghunath Sarkar. The Left Front maintained that without ensuring transparency and security, the democratic process would be adversely affected.