As voting began in Tripura for the 2023 Assembly Elections on Thursday, February 16 over 60 seats across the state, a total of 51.4per cent polling was recorded by 1 PM. The northeastern state has a total of 28.13 lakh registered voters. The exercise began at 7 am and is scheduled to continue till 4 pm.
By 11 AM, Tripura has recorded 32.12per cent polling. “A large number of voters were seen queuing in front of polling stations since morning to exercise their franchise. The polling process has largely remained peaceful amidst tight security,” he told reporters. The officer further said that it would be a challenge to complete the voting process by 4 pm as they are expecting a huge turnout at the end of the day.
While polls are underway Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland are set to vote for the assembly elections on February 27. As per PTI, the Election Commission on Thursday said that seizures totalling over Rs 147 crore have been recorded so far in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, marking a 20-fold increase in recovery of drugs, liquor and cash meant to induce voters in the run up to the polls.
A special inter-agency team constituted to control illegal drugs resulted in Rs 14.12 crore worth of ganja cultivation being destroyed in Tripura. "The recorded seizures in the three states mark a significant increase with over 20 times increase in seizures as compared to assembly elections in 2018," the poll panel said.
Noting that free and fair elections are being conducted, the CEO said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured the entry of more than one party’s polling agent in all the 3,337 booths. Though there were reports of malfunctioning in around 40-45 locations, the ECI promptly replaced the faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to resume voting. Additionally, the ECI is dispatching supplementary forces to locations where it is deemed necessary. “There has been no report of booth jam or capturing so far,” he said.
According to a senior police officer, two polling agents affiliated with CPI(M) were assaulted by unknown individuals in the Kakraban assembly constituency located in Gomati district but no FIR has been registered yet. Among the early batch voters was Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is contesting the polls from the Town Bardowali constituency. He expressed assurance that the BJP will secure an absolute majority in the Assembly elections. "I am 100 percent confident that the BJP will secure absolute majority in the elections. The party may get more seats than it did the last time,” he told reporters on his way to a polling booth at Maharani Tulsibati Girls’ School.
Leader of Opposition Manik Sarkar, after casting his vote in Ramnagar constituency, appealed to the people to “brave all odds” and unitedly cast their votes for forming a new government that will create an atmosphere of democracy, peace and tranquility. Rajya Sabha MP and former CM Biplab Kumar Deb too appeared confident that the BJP will win 40 of the 60 seats in the state. “Tripura has a tradition of giving massive mandate... The BJP-IPFT alliance has won 44 seats in 2018 polls, the Left Front has bagged more than 40 seats in 2002,” he said.
“The northeastern state has witnessed massive development on all fronts – from education to healthcare to infrastructure – in the last five years. I am sure people will bless the BJP by ensuring the victory of our candidates in more than 40 seats,” the former CM said. Deb offered prayers at the Tripureswari temple before going to cast his vote in Udaipur.
The northeastern state has witnessed top leaders step up their electoral spadework over the past few days. Tripura will see a triangular fight this time, with the BJP-IPFT coalition seeking to retain supremacy, the Left-Congress combine looking to wrest power, and regional outfit Tipra Motha making its debut at the hustings after its stunning performance in the autonomous council polls.
Altogether 28.13 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise during the day in 3,337 polling stations of the northeastern state to determine the fate of 259 candidates, the CEO said. Of the 3,337 polling stations, 1,100 booths have been identified as sensitive and 28 as critical. As many as 97 booths are being managed by the women polling personnel. The international and inter-state boundaries have been sealed to keep trouble-makers at bay during the voting process, he said. As part of precautionary measures, prohibitory orders have been imposed across the state till 6 am on February 17, the CEO stated.
"As many as 31,000 polling personnel and 25,000 security personnel of central forces will be on guard to ensure the election is conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Besides, 31,000 officials of the state armed police and the state police will be deployed at various places to maintain law and order," he explained.
Dinakarrao also said that an air ambulance has been stationed at Agartala Airport for emergencies. Urging electors to come out and exercise their democratic rights, the CEO said necessary steps have been made for their safety. "Special initiatives have been taken for physically challenged and old voters so that they don’t face any inconvenience at the booths," he said.
The BJP is contesting 55 assembly seats, and its ally IPFT has fielded candidates in six constituencies. The two parties will be having a friendly fight in one seat. The Left Front is contesting 47 seats and the Congress 13 constituencies. The Trinamool Congress has fielded nominees in 28 constituencies while there are 58 independent aspirants. The ruling BJP has fielded the highest number of women candidates with 12.
During the campaigning, the BJP highlighted the development that has taken place in the northeastern state in the last five years, the Left Front and the Congress stressed on “misrule and misgovernance” of the BJP-IPFT government.
(With PTI inputs)
