Polling in Tripura concludes peacefully with a large turn out.

Reang women in traditional dress at NOKHATOLA polling booth in the ATHAROMURRA HILLS.PIC: BAPI BHOWMIK

Agartala,23 April

Polling for the 2 loksava constituencies in Tripura passed off peacefully without a single incident of violence.People throughout the state exercised their democratic right in a huge number.The state Leftfront committee and CPI(M) state secretariate has congratulated the electorates for the peaceful and festive election.There has been around 77% polling according to preliminary estimates.

From the early morning itself people in both the rural and urban areas came out to cast their votes.Polling in rural and tribal areas however witnessed more brisk polling than in urban areas. Tribal women wearing their traditional attire and ornaments were as usual seen in large numbers.Women of minority community also stood in long queues carrying their infant children in arms.

Congress workers were visibly demoralised as the party couldnot put up polling agents in a good number of booths. CLP leader and a few other congress MLAs and leaders however tried to influence the voters by travelling with armed bodyguards and convoy.These attempts were thwarted by the EC following the complaints of CPI(M).CPI(M) has demanded repolling in one polling booth of East Tripura seat .Because of defects in the EVM no votes were recorded for two hors in that booth.State CEO Sanjib Ranjan however final figures will be available only by Friday, it is expected that the percantage of votes cast will be around 77% , 10% higher compared to the last parliamentary elections.