Leader of the Opposition in Tripura, Jitendra Chaudhury, has written to the State Election Commission, urging that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) without VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) should not be used in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections. He also called for the registration of an FIR against Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma over his alleged misleading and offensive remarks.
In his letter, Chaudhury—who also serves as the CPI(M) state committee secretary—stated that findings from the First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs by Returning Officers (ROs) indicate that the Commission plans to deploy older EVM units without VVPAT attachments, as he had earlier anticipated.
Highlighting concerns over the reliability of EVMs, he noted the ongoing nationwide debate regarding their accuracy, with some experts raising the possibility of tampering. He argued that public confidence in the system is largely dependent on the presence of VVPAT, which allows voters to verify their votes. Chaudhury added that, despite elections being conducted in multiple states, there should be no shortage of updated EVMs equipped with VVPAT systems.
He further said that concerns among voters, political parties, and candidates contesting the TTAADC elections have intensified following a recent statement by Minister Bikash Debbarma. Addressing a gathering on March 28 at Bachaibari Community Hall in Khowai Sub-Division, Debbarma allegedly claimed that votes cast for Tipra Motha would ultimately benefit the BJP.
Chaudhury described the remark as inappropriate and damaging, saying it undermines the credibility of the Election Commission, disrespects the democratic process, and misleads voters.
In his letter, he demanded that only updated EVMs with VVPAT be used in all polling stations. He also urged the Commission to take strict action against Debbarma by registering an FIR, barring him from campaigning, and convening an all-party meeting to address election-related concerns previously raised by the Left Front.
