Guwahati: The election board has announced a 40% voter turnout as of 12 p.m. as voting progresses in Tripura.
Numerous polling places report high voter turnout with many people arriving to cast their ballots as early as 5.30 am on February 16.
A high security has been put in place in strategic locations to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
Although there have been isolated acts of violence, according to the former chief minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar, one polling agent has been attacked in the Dhanpur Assembly Constituency.
After casting his ballot in Agartala, the former chief minister Sarkar stated that he had learned that polling agents of the Left Front were not permitted to enter the polling stations at Bhabanipur, Nidaya, KK Nagar and Nirbhoypur under the Dhanpur Assembly Constituency and that anyone who did so was attacked and thrown outside the polling places.
“Voters started mobilizing. In many places, BJP-backed miscreants tried to prevent the voters. From Agartala, we immediately informed Chief Electoral Officer and said he is taking up the matter. We tried to contact the Additional Returning Officer (AROs) but were unable to connect with him at the same time another AROs said they can’t handle such small things as he is in the strong room. So the point is at morning why he is in a strong room in the morning”, alleged Sarkar.
He said that voters are facing obstacles, protesting and blockading roads, chanting slogs in different places of the state.
“In parts of Udaipur, Belonia such incidents are taking place. But this all is proving again that BJP is scared and people will not allow such thing time”, he added.