Tripura Elections 2023 Live: BJP Looking For Win As TIPRA Poses Threat

Tripura is the first of three northeastern states that head to assembly elections this year. Meghalaya and Nagaland will be voting later this month.

The tussle for the hotseat is going to be interesting in Tripura with regional party TIPRA Motha, led by royal scion Pradyot Debbarma gaining confidence as well as people's trust with their demand for Greater Tipraland.

The Congress and CPI-M will look to dent the vote shares while harbouring hopes of causing an upset. However, it is the ruling BJP that looks all set to come to power again, exuding confidence during the campaigning.

The voting for the Tripura Assembly elections closed at 4 pm, with the voter turnout recorded at 81.10 per cent, informed the Election Commission on Thursday.

The fate of the 259 candidates will be sealed in the ongoing polls for 60 Assembly seats.

In the 2019 Tripura General elections, the total voter turnout was recorded at 82.40 %.

Tripura's Chief Electoral Officer said that the state recorded 81.1 per cent voter turnout till 4 pm.

EVM malfunctioning was reported in as many as 40 to 45 places across the state, the CEO mentioned. However, all the machines were replaced and voting resumed soon, the CEO said, adding that the ECI is sending additional forces wherever required, reported PTI.

The state units of both Congress and BJP in Tripura along with BJP general secretary Dilip Saikia got notices from the Election Commission for seeking votes on Twitter while polling was underway in the state, reported PTI.

Tripura witnessed a voter turnout of 69.96 per cent as of 3 pm, as per election officials. Despite that, a significant number of voters are still queued up to exercise their right at many polling stations during the last hour of voting. The final voting turnout is predicted to exceed 85 per cent.

Senior citizens and divyangs were helped out by volunteers of ECI at polling stations to see out successful polls.

Bru voters were able to exercise their franchise after 25 years owing to rehabilitation and registraion of voters in Tripura. They came out in large numbers in Haduklaupara in the 47 Ambassa assembly constituency in Tripura's Dhalai district.

Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman displayed confidence that his fledgling front will leave a mark in the ongoing assembly elections.

Interacting with ANI after casting his vote on Thursday, he claimed that his party will win as many as 31 seats in the state polls.

There has been an increase in seizures of liquors, drugs and freebies distributed by political parties in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. The increase in seizures by the EC is about 20 times as compared to the 2018 elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura issued notice to state Congress and BJP party for for "an appeal for vote in the favour" of their own parties tweeted from their official handles after the imposition of Model Code of Conduct.

The assembly election saw 51.35 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm and Dhalai still recorded the highest 54.17 per cent, Gomati recorded at 49.69 per cent, Khiwai saw 49.67 per cent, North Tripura saw 47.57 per cent, Sepahijala recorded at 51.27 per cent, South Tripura saw 53.67 per cent, Unakoti saw 50.64 per cent and West Tripura saw 52.49 per cent.

District Election Officer of Gomati informed, "The Case has been registered. Continuous police mobile is on to dominate the area. The situation is under control now."

TIPRA Motha Chief Pradyot Debbarma claimed that BJP has caused violence in some parts of the state.

He was quoted by ANI saying, “We got information that Dhanpur and Mohanpur have witnessed violence by the ruling party. We have complained about the violence and for the malfunctions in the EVMs. I want the entire voting process to be over by dark."

The BJP took the opportunity to release their vision document for Meghalaya with voting underway in Tripura. Meghalaya will also go to polls later this month.

All 3,337 polling stations across Tripura are being covered by Web Casting and Micro Observers in order to maintain transperancy in the voting process, as per All India Radio News.

Former Tripura Chief Minister and BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb has cast his vote in the Tripura assembly elections

The Tripura Assembly Election witnessed voter turnout of 32.06 per cent till 11 am. Polling will be continue till 4 pm today.

According to data shared by EC, Dhalai recorded the highest at 33.92 per cent, Gomati saw 30.57 per cent, Khowai at 30.88 per cent, North Tripura was logged at 29.48 per cent, Sepahijala at 31.72 per cent, South Tripura saw 33.61 per cent, Unakoti saw 31.85 per cent and West Tripura at 33.18 per cent.

The leader of opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Manik Sarkar has alleged attacks on the Left Front polling attacks in several parts of the state. He said that polling agents were attacked and thrown out of polling booths at Dhanpur, his home ground.

Sarkar said that common people blockaded the road demanding free and fair polls raising slogans that they would not allow others to cast their vote if they were obstructed.

Manik Sarkar said, "The ECI has mandate to ensure everyone can vote freely and fairly."

Moreover, the former Tripura Chief Minister claimed that parts of Udaipur in Gomati district, Belonia in South Tripura and few other places witnessed some form of violence today. However, Sarkar said that further comments from him in that regard will only come after cross checking the facts.

After the matter was brought to the attention of CEO Kiran Dinkarrao Gitte, he assured suitable action. He said that officials on the ground were not responding positively as they were busy in strong rooms.

With voting in Tripura underway, reports of sporadic violence have emerged from across the state. As per the reports, a CPI(M) supporter was thrashed outside Kalacherra polling booth in Shantirbaazar constituency in the South Tripura district.

A source was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "The victim was rushed to hospital by our officials though he was not able to tell the names of attackers. Officer in-charge of the local police station has gone out for search based on photographs available. Suo Motu FIR has been lodged in Shantirbaazar PS. We will arrest the culprits soon."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people of Tripura to vote in record numbers in a bid to "strengthen the festival of democracy."

As Tripura votes today, PM Modi wrote on Twitter, "Urging the people of Tripura to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I specially call upon the youth to exercise their franchise."

As per the latest data shared by the Election Commission, West Tripura saw 14.56 per cent voting till 9 am, while Dhalai recorded 13.62 per cent, Gomati 12.99 per cent, Khowai 13.08 per cent, North Tripura 12.79 per cent, Sepahijala 13.61 per cent, Unakoti 13.34 per cent and South Tripura 14.34 per cent.

Former Tripura Chief Minister and the current leader of oppostion in the Tripura assembly, Manik Sarkar has cast his vote in Agartala.

The Tripura Assembly elections recorded 13.23% voter turnout till 9 am.

Meanwhile, the first-time voters were also seen expressing their excitement to exercise their franchise.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha casted his vote for the assembly elections.

He said, "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."

Amid tight security, voting for the Tripura Assembly elections began today from 7 am.

The polling will continue till 4 pm.

The Congress on Saturday announced a list of 17 candidates for the upcoming Tripura assembly polls. Agartala MLA Sudip Roy Barman, who is a former BJP minister, will contest for the same seat in the upcoming polls.

The grand old party has also released the list of star campaigners ahead of the Tripura polls. Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Priyanka Gandhi, Bhupesh Baghel, Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and others feature in the list.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front had announced the names of candidates for 47 of the 60 Assembly seats earlier this week.

Out of the 47 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will contest for 43 seats while other Left partners – CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc – will field one candidate each. The Left Front has fielded 24 new faces in the electoral fray.

The Congress-CPI(M) alliance is a tectonic shift in the state's political landscape, as the Congress was the main opposition to the Left Front, which ruled Tripura for 25 years before being routed by the BJP in 2018.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda along with Chief Minister Manik Saha released the party's manifesto for the Tripura Assembly elections.

While addressing the Public meeting, Nadda said, "Tripura was once known for blockades and insurgency. The state is now known for peace, prosperity and development."

He added, "13 lakh Ayushman Bharat health cards have been given in Tripura, with Rs 107 crores given in settlement, till now."

Nadda along with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha offered prayers at Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur on Thursday morning.

People of Gomati in the poll-bound Tripura were filled with euphoria as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a roadshow in the district.

People lined on both sides of the streets through which the Prime Minister's convoy passed.

The Prime Minister was also seen greeting people and waving at them.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister addressed public rallies in Radhakishorepur and Ambassa of the poll-bound State.

During his address in Ambassa, PM highlighted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's development work and said that the northeastern state is poised to become the 'Gateway' of South Asia.

He said the BJP government strives to bring forth the contributions of the tribal people in nation-building through its consistent steps of recognizing their efforts.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined Home Minister Amit Shah in a road show in Tripura’s Pratapgarh area on Sunday evening.

Taking to Twitter, CM Sarma wrote, “Delighted to join Adarniya HM Shri @AmitShah ji in a road show that saw a rapturous crowd at Pratapgarh, Tripura.”

“This affectionate display of support is overwhelming and reassuring of @BJP4Tripura’s victory in the coming assembly elections,” he added.

The road was also joined by Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha.

Ahead of the road show earlier today, Amit Shah urged the electorates to give another five years to the party, by stating that the ‘jodi’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Saha will make Tripura a prosperous state.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been imposed in the poll-bound state of Tripura by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from 10 pm on February 13 to 6 am on February 17.

Addressing the media in a press briefing, CEO Kiran Gitte mentioned that stringent measures were being imposed in order to prevent any adverse law and order situation from arising with all signs pointing towards a hotly contested assembly election.

He said, “We have taken various steps to prevent any law and order issue. Before December around 100 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) arrived in Tripura. Before the declaration of election another 100 companies arrived, while after the January 18, a further 200 companies arrived here which we have deployed across Tripura. Along with that we have more than 20, 000 police and TSR deployed for security purposes across the state.”

Going door to door on the last day of campaigning for Thursday's Assembly elections, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the Congress lacks leadership and his party would go into the electoral battle aiming for a 'Virodhi Mukt Tripura'.

During his door-to-door campaign in the Town Bordowali constituency of Agartala's Ramnagar, CM Saha said reaching out to the people has always been his aim and objective.

"It has always been my aim and objective to reach out to every person at their homes, but due to a time crunch, it could not happen. However, I have tried to reach out to households as much as possible. The people of my constituency are excited for February 16 and are waiting in anticipation to cast their votes. They admire PM Modi a lot and I am convinced that the BJP will come to the power once again," Saha told while campaigning on Tuesday.