Mohitpadhan
- 1. oting in all 60 constituencies in Tripura has been peaceful on Thursday except a few untoward incidents and technical snags in electronic voting machines in some areas. It is reports 58 per cent of the people casted votes till 1 p.m. and long queues outside polling centres are seen in towns and villages. 23.55 lakh people including 54,000 new voters are eligible to elect 60 lawmakers from 249 candidates, 14 of them women. Voting is taking place in 3041 polling stations. Massive security arrangements are in place to hold free and peaceful election. The union home ministry had sent 160 additional companies of various security forces for deployment along with Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and armed police personnel. Although different political parties and independents are in the fray, main contest is likely between ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress–INPT alliance. Both are predicting victory. The voting is taking place in festive mood across the state, even in tribal infested remote Raisyabari in Dhalai district. In 2008 the voter turnout was 91.32 percent, but this time it might witness more in view of the trend since morning. Meanwhile Congress candidate in Dhanpur Shah Alam has alleged that some unidentified elements lobbed bomb at his vehicle. The election commission has ordered an investigation into the incident occurred in the constituency where Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is seeking reelection for fourth time in a row. The commission has also constituted probe against two poll officials who allegedly broke security seal of an EVM at Asharambari in Khowai of West Tripura. In another incident a CRPF contingent recovered five grenades at RK Nagar near Agartala around noon. No arrest was made in the area.
- 2. In nearby Khayerpur spate of clashes between CPI(M) and Congress supporters emerged. Paramilitary troops are patrolling the area. In Barjala constituency in Agartala scuffle between two groups followed after the allegation of booth capturing. Keywords: <a href="http://www.thehindu.com">election commission</a>