Tripura election 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: EC says Tripura polls 'largely violence-free' as voter turnout at 81%

Voter turnout stood at 80.13 percent at 9 pm

76.68 per cent voting recorded in Tripura till 5 PM.

Scuffle reported at a polling station between 3&4 under 33 Kakraban Assembly constituency. 

A total of 69.96 per cent of 28.13 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Tripura assembly elections till 3 pm on Thursday, with polling largely being peaceful amid sporadic incidents of violence, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao said.

51.35 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm. 

"I think voter turnout will be over 90% & people of Tripura will give us a chance. We got information that Dhanpur & Mohanpur have witnessed violence by the ruling party," said Tipra Motha chief : Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman. 

"In some places, miscreants on behalf of BJP are causing trouble and stopping people from casting their votes fearlessly. But the people are trying their best to cast votes," said CPIM leader and former CM Manik Sarkar. 

Voters from the International Border area cast their vote in Tripura.

After the Bru Migrants from Mizoram were resettled in the State of Tripura, they exercised their right to vote for the first time in the State. 

Transgender voters cast their vote in 13-Pratapgarh AC, Aralia, West Tripura District. 

"One CPI supporter was beaten outside Kalacherra polling station in 36-Shantirbaazar constituency in South Tripura. He has been taken to hospital by our officials. Suo Motu FIR has been lodged in Shantirbaazar PS. We will arrest the culprits soon," SP South Tripura

31.23 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am.

BJP MP Biplab Deb cast his vote.  "We don't see any election as big or small. Public is supreme & it's our duty to respect them. They gave us power in 2018 and despite COVID, we worked in all sectors of state. People know this," he said.

12.76 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in Tripura.

After casting his vote CM and BJP's candidate from Town Bordowali, Manik Saha said It feels good and he urged all voters to cast their votes. 

"We want peaceful voting. People ask me what is the challenge before me? The challenge is that the rivals (Congress-Left) that have come together in an unholy alliance should maintain peace," he added.

"I offered prayers in the morning and prayed for peaceful voting everywhere. You can see people have come out to vote. I am confident that BJP will definitely form the Government here," he said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha cast his vote in Agartala.

"I urge all voters to take part in this festival of democracy & show up to vote for Tripura assembly elections. Each vote will count towards continuing the journey of good governance, development and prove to be decisive for a prosperous, corruption-free Tripura," said BJP chief JP Nadda

People queue up to cast their votes at polling booths as voting began.

The BJP is contesting in 55 seats, while ally IPFT has fielded candidates in 6 constituencies. On one seat, both parties will have a friendly fight. BJP has fielded the highest number of women candidates with 12.

31,000 employees of the state armed police and the state police will be deployed to maintain law and order, said the CEO.

As many as 31,000 polling personnel and 25,000 security personnel of central forces are ready to conduct the election in a free, fair and peaceful manner.