Over 75% turnout in peaceful Tripura polls
VOTING DAY Snags in EVMs reported from 180 polling stations, says an official AGARTALA:
Over 75% of the 2,536,589 voters in Left-ruled Tripura exercised their franchise in a peaceful manner to elect a new Assembly on Sunday even as a large number were still standing in queues at the end of official voting hours, officials said.
Election Department officials said voters queued up outside booths across Tripura even before polling began at 7am. A total of 292 candidates, including 23 women and many independents, are in the fray. Counting of votes will take place on March 3.
“Over 75% electorate had cast their votes till 4pm. Though the pre-scheduled voting hours ended at 4pm, a huge number of voters was still in queues at many polling stations,” an Election Department official said.
The official said snags in Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) attached with VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) were reported from around 180 polling stations, resulting in slow balloting.Voters, candidates and leaders expressed anger over the malfunctioning EVMs-VVPATs.
In the 2013 and 2008 Assembly polls, Tripura witnessed record balloting at 92% and 91% respectively. “The Election Commission put up specially modified EVMs attached with VVPATs at all 3,174 polling stations. We replaced or rectified faulty EVMVVPATs and voting resumed in those polling stations afterwards,”additionalchiefelectoral officer Tapas Roy said.
Balloting was held in 59 of the 60 Assembly constituencies. Polling was deferred to March 12 in Charilam (Reserved-Tribal) seat due to the death of sitting MLA and Communist Party of IndiaMarxist (CPI-M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma.
Of the 3,174 polling stations, a total of 47 were totally handled by women personnel. In all, 2,536,589 people, including 1,250,128 women and 47,803 first-time voters, were eligible to vote.
“Apprehending trouble by tribal outfits, a record 50,000 paramilitary and other security personnel were deployed while two air surveillance teams led by senior officials were deployed on helicopters,” an Election Department official said.
Accompanied by his wife Panchali Bhattacharjee, chief minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar cast his vote and expressed confidence about retaining power. “It is certain that the 8th Left Front government will be formed in Tripura after these elections. We are strongly hopeful,” he said.