The three-tier Panchayat elections in Tripura, which commenced at 7 AM today, have witnessed a voter turnout of over 30% by 12 PM. The polling process spans Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads, with a total of 6,909 seats up for grabs. According to an official from the Tripura State Election Commission, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already secured 4,805 seats uncontested. The breakdown of seats includes 6,370 in Gram Panchayats, 423 in Panchayat Samitis, and 116 in Zila Parishads.
The election involves 12,94,153 registered voters, comprising 6,58,445 males, 6,35,597 females, and 11 others, spread across 2,650 polling stations. Voting is currently underway for 2,102 seats. By 10 AM, a 24.97% voter turnout was recorded. The election commission has noted some complaints of sporadic incidents, which were swiftly addressed by security and returning officers.
To ensure a peaceful voting process, the administration has implemented strict security measures. Over 10,000 state security personnel, including Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and 30 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), have been deployed.
