Tripura Bypolls: CPI(M) Alleges Rigging, Boycotts Counting Of Votes For Dhanpur And Boxanagar Seats

CPI(M) has alleged rigging during the polling in Tripura for the byelections for Dhanpur and Boxanagar on September 5. The party has decided to boycott the counting.

Tripura Bypolls: Counting of votes for byelections for Dhanpur and Boxanagar seats in the northeastern state of Tripura began at 8 am on Friday amid tight security, reported PTI citing officials. The voting took place in the Sepahijala district for the two seats on September 5 with an average turnout of 86.50 per cent. The counting is being held at the Sonamura Girls' School amid tight security. Meanwhile, CPI(M) has decided to boycott the counting alleging large-scale rigging during voting and inaction by the Election Commission. According to PTI, the two seats are witnessing a one-on-one fight between the ruling BJP and the CPI(M). Notably, the other two opposition parties, Tipra Motha and Congress have not fielded any candidates.

Speaking on the security measures, Sepahijala's District Magistrate Vishal Kumar said all steps have been taken to complete the counting smoothly and transparently. "Tight security arrangements have been made to ensure peace during the counting and after the counting," he told PTI.

The polling in the Boxanagar constituency was necessitated due to the death of CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque. Whereas, Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik's resignation as the MLA of Dhanpur necessitated the byelection on this seat.

BJP fielded Tafajjal Hussain against CPI(M)'s Mizan Hussain from Boxanagar. According to PTI, the seat has 66 per cent minority voters of a total of 43,087 electors. In the last assembly polls in February, the CPI(M) retained the seat.

The PTI report said, the Dhanpur constituency was once considered a stronghold of the Left and it witnessed a fight between the BJP's Bindu Debnath and Kaushik Debnath of the CPI(M). It added that more than 8,000 tribal voters of the total 50,346 electors are crucial in this electoral battle. Notably, the BJP won the seat for the first time in the Assembly poll held seven months ago.

In the 60-member Tripura assembly, the BJP has 31 MLAs and its ally IPFT has one member. On the other side, the opposition Tipra Motha has 13 MLAs, CPI(M) has 10 and the Congress has three MLAs.