“Polls were a farce,” says former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar on “unexpected” results
the recently held Tripura Assembly election, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power by winning an absolute majority.
Nearly 57 per cent electors had cast their votes till 4 pm in Tripura, reports said. People started queuing up outside polling stations since the voting began at 7 am. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar cast his vote at a booth in Agartala.
The Manik Sarkar’s Left government faces a challenge from the BJP. The Sarkar government is in power for five consecutive terms in the state.
“Men and women in large numbers queued up in front of many polling stations well before polling opened at 7 a.m. in the entire state. Polling ends at 4 p.m.,” said Sriram Taranikanti, the Chief Electoral Officer.
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In all, 2,536,589 people, including 1,250,128 women and 47,803 first-time voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 292 candidates, including 23 women and many independents.
“Apprehending troubles by some tribal outfit, a record 50,000 para-military and other state security personnel have been deployed while two air surveillance team led by senior officials are conducting surveillance by helicopters,” the election official.
(With agency inputs)
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