Chief Election Officer Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao said the final voter turnout could be higher as reports from some remote locations are expected.
Tripura Assembly Polls: 259 candidates battling for 60 seats
At least three people, including a CPM official, were injured in an attack by unidentified people in the Boxanagar area of Sepahijala district. Two election agents of CPM were attacked in Kakraban constituency of Gomati district, while a vehicle belonging to an election agent of candidate CPM Pabitra Kar was attacked at Khayerpur in West Tripura.
Central forces kept violence at bay elsewhere in the northeastern state, allowing for trouble-free polls in 3,337 polling stations to decide the electoral fate of 259 candidates. More than 1,000 stands were identified as “sensitive” and 28 as “critical”. A total of 97 stands were entirely staffed by female staff.
The run-up to the elections was marred by frequent clashes involving supporters of the main parties. “I am 100% confident that the BJP will secure an outright majority. The party may win more seats than last time,” said CM Manik Saha who is contesting the seat of Town Bardowali.
Rajya Sabha MP and former CM Biplab Kumar Deb he declared that the Saffron Party would win 40 of the 60 seats up for grabs. The BJP has fielded candidates in 55 seats and its tribal ally the IPFT in six, including one in which they are in “a friendly fight”.
The Left Front is contesting 47 seats and its Congress partner 13. The newly formed TIPRA Mothaaiming to play the king, he fielded candidates in 42 seats while Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is vying for 28.
CPM Secretary of State Jitendra Chaudhurythe unofficial CM face of the Left-Congress association, said in a video message from the Sabroom constituency that people had turned out in large numbers “against all odds to vote for the restoration of democracy”.
The vote in the 32 seats currently held by the BJP was over 90%, suggesting a strong anti-incumbent, sources said. The votes will be tallied on March 2 alongside those of Meghalaya and Nagaland, scheduled to go to the polls on February 27.
