Tripura polls: 25L voters decide ruling CPI(M)'s fate
What's the story
Polling began in Tripura at 7am today for the 2018 Assembly Elections, the first direct face-off between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP.
25L voters will choose their favorites from among 292 candidates across 60 constituencies, but voting in Charilam seat has been delayed due to CPI(M) candidate Ramendra ND Barma's death.
Results will be announced on March 3. Follow for updates.
Parties
First direct fight between saffron and red parties
The CPI(M) has been ruling Tripura since 25 years under the leadership of Manik Sarkar, who's eyeing a record fifth term. It has fielded 57 candidates.
Meanwhile, the BJP has joined hands with the IPFT, which wants a separate state for tribals, and is fighting 51 seats.
The Congress is going it alone.
The tenure of the current assembly ends on March 6.
Twitter Post
CM Manik Sarkar casts his vote
Tripura CM Manik Sarkar casts his vote at a polling booth in Agartala, he is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency #TripuraElection2018. pic.twitter.com/UniDo6VGIf
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018
Voting
Indo-Bangladesh border sealed to check intruders' entry
Voting is being held up to 4pm at 3,174 polling stations across Tripura. Forty-seven of them are completely managed by women.
Half of the state's 25L voters are women. There are 11 third gender voters.
47,803 new voters have been added this time.
For security, 300 companies of central security forces have been deployed and the 856km India-Bangladesh border sealed.
Status
46% turnout recorded till 1pm
Till 1pm, 46% turnout had been recorded. Snags in EVMs were reported from over 150 polling stations, which slowed down voting.
Over 180 engineers are working to correct the flawed machines, EC officials said.
Congress' Birajit Sinha and CPI(M)'s Bijoy Laxmi Singha alleged "rough behavior" from security staff on duty, but there are no reports of violence yet.
CPI(M)
Reports of "closed-door meeting" between special observer and BJP
This time, ITBP Director General RK Pachnanda has been appointed special observer to ensure free and fair polling.
But CPI(M) has objected to reports of a closed-door meeting between the special observer and the state BJP president at the Chief Electoral Officer's chamber.
The "unusual" appointment and the meeting have "created confusion among the people," the CPI(M) alleged.
Information
Results of the 2013 Assembly Elections at a glance
In the last polls, the Left Front won 50 seats, including 19 of the 20 reserved for tribals, while the Congress won 10. The voter turnout was a record 91.82%, one of the highest in India's electoral history.