Nearly 80 % voter turnout recorded in Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll in Tripura with peaceful polling, minor EVM glitches resolved quickly, and a high-stakes multi-cornered contest among BJP, Congress, and Left candidates ahead of May 4 counting.
The Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll in Tripura recorded an impressive voter turnout of nearly 80 percent on Thursday, reflecting strong democratic participation in one of the state’s most politically significant constituencies. According to election officials, more than 79.84 percent of the 46,142 registered voters exercised their franchise in the crucial by-election held in North Tripura district.
Polling began at 7 a.m. across 55 polling stations and continued smoothly until 5 p.m. without any interruptions. Authorities confirmed that the entire voting process remained peaceful, with no major untoward incidents reported from any part of the constituency.
Despite minor technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a few locations, swift intervention by Election Commission personnel ensured minimal disruption. The faulty machines were either repaired or replaced promptly, allowing voting to proceed seamlessly. Officials indicated that the final turnout figure may rise slightly once complete data from all polling stations is compiled.
Out of the total electorate, 23,758 were women voters, highlighting a significant level of female participation in the electoral process. In a notable push for inclusivity, 11 polling stations were managed entirely by women personnel. Additionally, two polling booths each were operated by differently-abled staff and youth teams, showcasing a progressive and representative approach to election management.
Election authorities, in coordination with state police forces, implemented elaborate security and administrative arrangements to ensure that the polling remained free, fair, and transparent. The smooth conduct of the bypoll has been widely seen as a testament to effective election planning and voter awareness.
The Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has long been a political battleground, dominated by the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2008. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) last secured victory here in 2003. This historical backdrop has made the current bypoll a closely watched contest.
A total of six candidates are in the fray, representing major political parties, smaller organizations, and independent interests. Key contenders include BJP’s Jahar Chakraborti, Congress nominee Chayan Bhattacharjee, and Left Front candidate Amitabha Datta. Datta, a former MLA, had previously won the seat in 2003, adding experience to the contest.
The electoral race has intensified further due to the presence of candidates from regional parties such as the Amra Bangali and the Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist, along with an Independent candidate. The multi-cornered nature of the contest has created a highly competitive political atmosphere.
Adding another layer of complexity, the Congress and the Left Front, which had formed an alliance during the 2023 Assembly elections to challenge the BJP, are contesting separately in this bypoll. In the previous election, Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee, backed by Left parties, lost narrowly to BJP’s Biswa Bandhu Sen by just 956 votes.
The by-election was necessitated following the demise of veteran নেতা Biswa Bandhu Sen, who passed away on December 26, 2025, at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness. Sen had served as the Speaker of the Tripura Assembly and was a four-time MLA, winning twice as a Congress candidate and twice as a BJP nominee from the same constituency.
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With a strong voter turnout and a peaceful polling process, attention now shifts to the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. Political observers believe that the outcome of this bypoll could have broader implications for the political dynamics in Tripura ahead of future elections.
