Based on the information provided by the Returning Officer for West Tripura LS seat, Dr. Vishal Kumar, the voting process for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency and Ramnagar by-election was largely peaceful with a high voter turnout. Here are some key points from his address:
-
Voter Turnout: As of 5 pm, the voter turnout was reported to be 81.52 percent.
-
Polling Stations: Out of a total of 1,686 polling booths, voting had concluded in approximately 1,400 polling booths by 5 pm.
-
Highest and Lowest Turnout: Belonia assembly constituency saw the highest turnout at 85.64%, while 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency had the lowest turnout at 68.64%.
-
Polling Process Completion: Polling concluded smoothly in most booths by the evening, with polling parties already beginning to return to various locations across districts.
-
Complaints and Actions Taken: The Returning Officer mentioned that there were some complaints during the polling process, but many were found to be false and promptly addressed. Additional forces were mobilized from other districts to ensure security. Arrests and preventive detentions were made in certain areas like Mohanpur and Ramnagar to maintain law and order.
-
Personnel Suspensions: Two polling personnel were suspended from a polling station under the Ramnagar assembly segment.
-
Comparison with 2019 Elections: Dr. Vishal Kumar noted that the current voter turnout percentage was expected to surpass the 82.4% recorded in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency.
Overall, the Returning Officer expressed gratitude to political parties for their cooperation in conducting the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. The final voter turnout percentage was anticipated to be higher than in previous elections, reflecting significant public participation in the electoral process.
