Despite the scorching heat, over 80 per cent of the 14 lakh voters cast their votes in the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held under a heavy security cover on Friday.
The police said that no untoward incident was reported during polling from the tribal reserve parliamentary constituency.
Election officials said that heavy security arrangements were made for the Tripura East seat spread across six districts to thwart any incidents of violence.
Around 1,050 voters in the tribal-dominated Raima Valley refused to cast their votes in protest against the bad road conditions and poor water supply in their area. However, after being persuaded by senior officials, the angry voters agreed to vote.
A large number of the voters residing outside the border-fenced area (inside Indian territory near the zero line) on the India-Bangladesh border in Kailashahar exercised their franchise after the BSF personnel opened the gates on the border.
Meanwhile, the authorities on Friday suspended polling official Mousumi Ghosh, posted in the Surma Assembly segment, for making comments involving a top political leader of the country. However, the suspension order was withdrawn late Friday evening.
At least 15 voters, including women, were injured when a swarm of bees attacked them. They were in the queue to cast their votes in Barabill area of Tripura's Khowai district.
Election officials said that Fire and Emergency Service personnel rushed to the spot and shifted the affected voters to the Khowai district hospital. After treatment, they were sent to their homes.
Around 14 lakh voters, including 6.94 lakh females, were eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of nine candidates in the politically crucial parliamentary seat, reserved for the tribals.
Returning Officer Saju Vaheed A. said that the majority of over 16,000 Reang tribal voters, who were recently rehabilitated in different districts of Tripura after being displaced from the neighbouring Mizoram state following ethnic trouble there, cast their votes in different polling stations for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat.
Though there are nine candidates in the fray, the main contest is between the BJP's Kriti Devi Debbarman, the elder sister of Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, and the CPI-M's Rajendra Reang, a former MLA representing the opposition INDIA bloc.
The other Lok Sabha seat in the state -- Tripura West -- went to the polls in the first phase on April 19, recording a turnout of around 82 per cent. The by-election to the Ramnagar Assembly constituency was also held on April 19.
Flight operation between Agartala-Delhi to be increased; resumption of flight operation between Agartala-Aizawl, Agartala-Shillong, says MP Biplab Kumar Deb
The former Chief Minister and presently the MP for West Tripura constituency Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday chaired the airport advisory committee meeting here at Agartala MBB Airport and said that there is a plan to increase direct flight operation from Delhi to Agartala.
Tripura: Bill proposes hike in salaries of CM, Ministers and MLAs upto 50pc
An Amendment Bill has been moved in the Tripura Assembly on Friday proposing the increase of salaries, allowances of Ministers, MLAs and former legislators by 45 to 50 per cent.
Winter assembly session begins in Tripura; Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu lauds Govt’s effort in maintaining law and order in Tripura
In his speech in the sixth session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly, the Governor said, “The state of Tripura is witnessing development in almost every sector including infrastructure, health care, education, agriculture and others under the guidance of the Centre and state leadership.”
TSF stages protest, demands to raise Roman script for Kokborok language in Assembly
The Twipra Student Federation (TSF), a wing of the North East Students Organisation (NESO), on Friday staged a protest near Circuit House in Agartala, demanding the issue of adopting the Roman script for the Kokborok language be raised in the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, which started today.
Govt to appoint over 400 Assistant Professors in colleges: CM
In a move to provide quality education to students studying in various colleges and to solve the crisis of Professors across the state, the Tripura government has taken a series of steps, including the appointment of 200 Assistant Professors,
Drug peddling: ED raids cop's residence, premises of suspected smugglers in Tripura
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Friday conducted raids in Tripura and searched the residence of a police official and premises of several people allegedly involved in drug peddling and money laundering cases, sources said.
Crucial winter session of Tripura Assembly to begin from tomorrow
The crucial winter session of the Tripura assembly would begin on Friday and a bill would be moved in the House amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to all MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Ex-CM accuses BJP of divisive politics to mask hide core issues
Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday criticized the ruling BJP, accusing it of fostering divisions among Hindus, Muslims, Tribals, and Non-Tribals to divert attention from pressing issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and economic hardships.