Tripura Byelections: CPI(M) To Boycott Counting Of Votes, Alleges Large-Scale Rigging

The CPI(M)-led Left Front said that it will boycott the counting of votes in the Tripura byelections, alleging that the EC did not take steps to prevent large-scale rigging in the polls.

Polling officials check identification cards and use indelible ink to mark the finger of a voter as he arrives to cast his vote during the by-elections to Boxanagar assembly seat, in Tripura's Sepahijala district. ( Image Source :PTI )

The CPI(M)-led Left Front announced that it will boycott the counting of votes in the Tripura byelections, alleging that the Election Commission did not take steps to prevent large-scale rigging in the polls, as reported by news agency PTI. The polling for the by-elections to the Dhanpur and Boxanagar assembly seats in Sepahijala district took place on Tuesday. An average turnout of 86.50 per cent was recorded in the two seats. The Left Front alleged that large-scale rigging happened during the polling.

"We drew the attention of the Election Commission right from the beginning of the polling. But, the sorry state of affairs was that no steps were taken to prevent the large-scale rigging," Left Front convenor Narayan Kar said on Wednesday night, as quoted by PTI. The Left Front demanded cancellation of the election, and announcement of fresh polling, but the EC refused to take any steps in this regard, he said.

"The motive of the EC is amply clear. In this situation, what is the point of joining the counting of votes, scheduled for September 8? Therefore, we have decided to boycott the counting," he added.

The by-election to the Boxanagar constituency was necessitated by the death of CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque. Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik's resignation as the MLA of Dhanpur necessitated the by-election in that seat. BJP's Tafajjal Hussain is contesting against CPI(M)'s Mizan Hussain from the Boxanagar seat. It has 66 per cent minority voters of a total of 43,087 electors.

In the last assembly elections in February, the CPI(M) retained the seat.

The Dhanpur assembly constituency witnessed a fight between the BJP's Bindu Debnath and Kaushik Debnath of the CPI(M). The BJP won the seat for the first time in the assembly poll held seven months ago. The Congress and the Tripra Motha did not field their candidates in the two seats for the bypolls.

87% Voter Turnout Recorded In Tripura Byelections, 6 Injured In Violence

Around 87 per cent voter turnout was recorded till the end of polling in the by-elections to Dhanpur and Boxanagar assembly seats in Tripura’s Sepahijala district on Tuesday, an official said.

As per the officials, polling was largely peaceful barring an incident near Mohanbhog sub-zonal office under Dhanpur constituency where six youths were injured, as reported by PTI. Dhanpur recorded 89.20 per cent polling and 83.92 per cent voting was registered in Boxanagar constituency, chief electoral officer (CEO) Puneet Agarwal told PTI.

“The polling was largely free, fair and peaceful with no major complaints. The entire voting process was live streamed from each polling booth,” he said. Asked if there was any demand for repolling, the CEO said a party had given a representation on certain points regarding the voting process. “We will send the points raised by the political party to the district election officer (DEO) to verify their claims,” he said.