Counting of votes for Tripura civic polls underway

Agartala: Counting of votes for the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and other Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls began amid tight security across 13 counting halls here on Sunday.

A total of 334 seats, including Agartala Municipal Corporation (51 wards), 13 municipal councils and six Nagar panchayats, are up for grabs. The ruling BJP won 112 seats spread across 20 urban bodies uncontested. No other parties had filed candidates in seven ULBs.

Elections were held in the remaining 222 seats spread across 13 ULBs, including the AMC, on November 24. in which as many as 785 contestants are in the fray after 36 candidates withdrew their nominations.

The final vote percentage stood at 81.54 per cent. Over 4.93 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the elections, according to officials of the State Election Commission (SEC). 

Elections were fought mainly between the three parties — BJP, TMC and CPI(M) amidst alleged violence, allegations of attacks and Court interventions.

The ruling BJP had placed the development model, while the TMC promised to bring a host of schemes similar to that of Bengal and CPIM had appealed to save democracy and instil peace and harmony.

The Tripura Police has arranged a three-tier security arrangement for the counting centres by deploying Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and police personnel to maintain the law and order situation.

“It is requested of the members of the public not to pay any heed to any kind of rumours. Tripura Police appeals to the citizens of Tripura to maintain peace and tranquillity during and after counting of the votes,” the police statement reads.

Earlier, the ruling BJP, in a press statement, said the BJP state leaders held detailed discussions on the role of party karyakartas in connection with counting and possible situations after counting. 

“Our party leaders held detailed discussions on the role of party karyakartas in connection with the counting and the situation after it. Party karyakartas were asked to maintain discipline and to act as per the directions of the state leaders and should follow the organizational tradition after the announcement of the results,” BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said in a press statement.

The opposition CPIM and TMC had demanded countermand and fresh polls in the state. Both the parties had also moved the Supreme Court demanding its intervention in the case. The apex court will hear the case on Monday.

Also read | Tripura: 3-tier security for counting day, CPIM announces boycott