Agartala, Apr 19, 2024, By Our Correspondent
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The first phase polling of the West Tripura Parliamentary constituency of Lok Sabha elections 2024 and by poll s to Ramnagar assembly seat passed off by and large peacefully . The final turn out percentage is yet to be announced but sources indicate that it would be around 80+ percent at the final count going by the trend shown across the constituency. The polling began at 7 am under massive security arrangements and voters stood in the line braving blazing sun and searing heat. In the noon ostensibly due to scorching heat the electors turn out slowed down which later picked up at the onset of the afternoon.
There were reports of some untoward incidents in some booths at Kathalia under Suryamaninagar assembly constituency where some miscreants tried to enter the booth forcibly. However as they were immediately dispersed and police reinforcement was immediate made. Allegations against some presiding officers were also made and the RO is likely to take action against them.
Congress President Asish Kumar Saha alleged that party agents were not allowed to enter several polling stations.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, after casting his vote, expressed his confidence that BJP would win in Tripura's two Lok Sabha seats and Ramnagar Assembly seat.
In West Tripura, the total number of electorates is 16,63,526—7,34,133 males, 7,29,337 females and 56 third genders.
The polling parties and security personnel have already been dispatched on Thursday for their respective destinations. The voting will commence at 7 am in all the venues.
According to official sources, there are 1,686 polling stations in Tripura West Parliamentary constituency. And of them, 391 polling stations have been identified as vulnerable and 171 polling stations identified as critical.
A total of 793 polling stations are there in this constituency. The figure included 58 women-run polling stations, 7 Divyang-managed polling stations and 28 model polling stations.
The main contest is expected between former Tripura Chief Minister and BJP candidate Biplab Kumar Deb, and state Congress President Asish Kumar Saha of INDIA bloc.
The voting is also going on simultaneously for the byelection to the Ramnagar Assembly seat, which fell vacant after the demise of sitting BJP MLA Surajit Datta on December 28, last year.
Two candidates, one each of BJP and CPI-M, are trying their electoral fortunes in the Ramnagar Assembly bypoll.