Page 2 - Tripura Elections

Tripura registers 14% voter turnout till 9 am, polling peaceful so far: CEC

Tripura recorded a voter turnout of 14 per cent till 9 am on Thursday, with the polling process largely being peaceful in the first two hours, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao. The exercise began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm. The CEO also noted that "enthusiasm was palpable among the voters", especially women. "This indicates polls are being held in a free and fair manner," he said. Among the early voters was Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is contesting the polls from Town Bardowali constituency. He exuded confidence that the BJP will secure absolute majority in the Assembly elections. "I am hundred per cent confident that the BJP will secure absolute majority in the elections. The party may get more seats than it did the last time, he told reporters on his way to a polling booth at Maharani Tulsibati Girls' School here. Altogether 28.13 lakh voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise during the day in 3,337 polling stations of the ...

BJP to secure absolute majority in assembly polls, says Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday exuded confidence that the BJP will secure absolute majority in the Assembly elections, which got underway at 7 am. The saffron party will perform better than what it did in the previous election, Saha, who is contesting the polls from Town Bardowali Assembly constituency, claimed. "I am hundred per cent confident that the BJP will secure absolute majority in the elections. The party may get more seats than it did the last time," he told reporters on his way to a polling booth at Maharani Tulsibati Girls' School here. The BJP government in Tripura had been striving for development in the state, and would continue to do so in the years to come, he asserted. On being asked who will be the next chief minister, the doctor-turned-politician replied, "In our party, things are not decided that way. As of now, I am the chief minister." In the by-elections held last year, Saha had defeated Congress nominee Ashish Kumar Saha by more than 6,000 v

Polling begins in Tripura, fate of 259 candidates to be sealed, says CEO

Voting for the 60-member Assembly in Tripura began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao. Altogether 28.13 voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise during the day in 3,337 polling stations of the northeastern state to determine the fate of 259 candidates, he said. No untoward incident or EVM technical snag was reported from any part of the state during the first 30 minutes, he said. Of the 3,337 polling stations, 1,100 booths have been identified as sensitive and 28 as critical. As many as 97 booths are being managed by women polling personnel. The international and inter-state boundaries have been sealed to keep trouble-makers at bay during the voting process, Dinakarrao said. As part of precautionary measures, prohibitory orders have been imposed across the state till 6 am on February 17, the CEO stated. "As many as 31,000 polling personnel and 25,000 security personnel of central forces will be on guard

In case of post-poll deadlock, we may stake claim to form govt: Tipra Motha

In case of a deadlock with no alliance or party able to gain majority in the ensuing three-cornered elections to the Tripura assembly, the Tipra Motha may stake claim to form government, its president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl said. The regional party, which has been attracting large numbers of adherents in the state's tribal areas, is also willing to give outside support to any party or alliance (either the BJP or the Congress-Left combine) that manages to form government, provided it agrees on paper and on the floor of the House that it will concede to Tipra Motha's demand for creation of a separate tribal state. Hrangkhawl also said his party held a meeting on the possibility of a pre-poll alliance, in Guwahati, where they met the chief minister of Assam and two BJP leaders from Delhi, but it did not yield any results. It may so happen that we may be the single-largest party in the state in a post-poll scenario, we are willing to support from outside (any party which is able to for

Tripura assembly elections 2023: CPI-M delegation meets EC over 'violence'

A three-member delegation of CPI-M led by its general secretary Sitaram Yechury met the Election Commission here on Monday and told the poll panel that violence may occur in Tripura during the February 16 assembly elections. The CPI-M delegation also comprising Politburo member Nilotpal Basu and Central Secretariat member Muralidharan said that such fears arise from the fact that a large number of motorcycles have been imported into Tripura recently. "Gangs riding these motorcycles, it is apprehended, will attempt to terrorise and instill fear by the ruling BJP among voters belonging to opposition parties. Other methods of intimidation were also being used to influence voters. "Under these circumstances, the delegation impressed upon the Election Commission to take confidence building measures including but not limited to flag marches not only on main roads but also in the interiors," the party said in a statement. The delegation was assured by the EC that it will take all steps ..

Tripura polls: Border with B'desh, inter-state boundaries to be sealed

In a bid to ensure free and fair assembly elections in Tripura, the international border with Bangladesh and inter-state boundaries will be sealed from Monday, a senior poll official. Elections to the 60-member assembly of the northeastern state will be held on February 16. The international border with Bangladesh and the inter-state boundaries with Assam and Mizoram will be sealed from Monday, following instruction from the Election Commission," Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao told reporters on Sunday. The BSF, which has been "maintaining strict vigil along the India-Bangladesh border", has been asked to seal the boundary for free and fair elections, he said. Dinakarrao also said the commission will launch checking at hotels, hostels and marriage halls from Monday, 72 hours before the polling, to ensure that "outsiders do stay in a particular area where he or she is not a voter". Stating that the ongoing campaign for the ensuing elections will end at

Tripura Assembly election: 45 candidates crorepatis, says report

Of the 259 hopefuls contesting the Tripura Assembly polls, 45, or 17%, are crorepatis

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Jodi of PM Modi and CM Saha will make Tripura prosperous state: Amit Shah

People of Tripura have seen the bad governance of Communists, witnessed corrupted governance during Congress time, and have suffered violence, Shah said while addressing a Vijay Sankalp Rally

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BJP using money & muscle power to win Tripura polls, says Sitaram Yechury

The ruling BJP in Tripura is using money and muscle power to win the February 16 Assembly elections in the state, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Friday.

JP Nadda to release BJP manifesto for Tripura Assembly polls today

Bhartiya Janta Party national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday will release the manifesto for the Tripura assembly elections slated to be held on February 16."Nadda will release the manifesto for the Tripura assembly elections on February 9. He will visit Tripura on the same date," party source said.According to the source, the party has added many new points to the manifesto."There many new points have been added in the manifesto that is important for the development of the state. Modi government always thinks about the development of the NorthEast. His vision is the growth of state and most importantly youth", the source added.It further said that after releasing the manifesto, Nadda is scheduled to address a public rally."In the morning he will offer prayer at Tripura Sundari Mandir. After releasing the manifesto, he will address a rally as well," it added.Since coming to power in 2014, the PM Narendra Modi government has had a special focus on the northeast region with ...

Tripura elections: 45 candidates crorepatis, 41 have criminal cases

Of the total 259 candidates contesting the February 16 Tripura Assembly election, 45 are crorepatis, according to a report. The ruling BJP has 17 crorepati candidates followed by Tipra Motha with nine and CPI(M) seven, the report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a civil society organisation, said. The Congress has six crorepati candidates, Trinamool Congress four and two Independent candidates are also crorepati, it said. Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma of the BJP who is contesting from the Charilam constituency is the wealthiest candidate with 15.58 crore of movable and immovable assets, the report said. Chief Minister Manik Saha, a doctor, is the second richest candidate with Rs 13.90 crore assets, ADR's state coordinator Biswendu Bhattacharjee told PTI on Wednesday. Saha is contesting from Town Bardowali constituency. The third richest candidate is Abhijit Sarkar of the Tipra Motha with Rs 12.57 crore, Bhattacharjee said. The BJP which has fielded 55 .

Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath to address election rallies in Tripura today

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address five election rallies in Tripura on Wednesday, a BJP leader said. The Defence Minister will address Vijay Sankalp rally in South Tripura's Rajnagar and Barjala School ground in West Tripura district, said BJP's media in-charge Sunit Sakar. Adityanath will address rallies in Unakoti district's Fatikroy, Suryamaninagar in West Tripura and Mohanpur School ground in West Tripura district, he said. On Tuesday Singh and Adityanath had also addressed election rallies in support of BJP candidates in the state. Chief Minister Manik Saha will continue with his door to door campaign in Ramnagar Assembly constituency in West Tripura district. He will also join Vijay Sankalp rally at Barjala to be addressed by the Defence Minister. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition leader Manik Sarkar and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Choudhury who are leading the Left Front's campaign will address election rallies on

Rajnath, Yogi to hold rallies, Mamata to join road show in Tripura today

Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath will address two election rallies each in Tripura on Tuesday. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will also hold a road show in the northeastern state where elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 16. During the day, Singh, the country's defence minister, will address two rallies of the ruling BJP at Kailashahar in Unakoti district and at Badarghat in West Tripura. Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, will also hold two rallies at Bagabassa in North Tripura district and at Kalyanpur in Khowai. Banerjee's roadshow is scheduled to begin at noon in the state capital Agartala. Security arrangements have been tightened in the northeastern state in view of the scheduled visit of the political leaders. Notably, Union Home Minister and Senior BJP leader Amit Shah had on Monday held two rallies and a road show in the poll-bound Tripura. Shah had alleged that Tipra Motha has a "sec

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Cong's manifesto vows old pension scheme, 50,000 new jobs in Tripura

The Congress manifesto for the Tripura Assembly election promised old pension scheme for government employees, 50,000 new jobs, increase in wages of agricultural labourers and free 150 units of electricity, if the party is voted to power. At the release of the Congress manifesto on Sunday, senior leader and lone party MLA Sudip Roy Barman said a 20-point programme has been chalked out keeping in mind the welfare of poor and middle class people. In the manifesto, the party has focussed on employment, welfare of employees, poor and middle class people, he said. "The old pension scheme for the employees will be brought back if the party is voted to power in the Assembly elections. Besides, government employees will get dearness allowance hike twice in a year ...", Roy Barman said. Employment in the government sector will be done on a regular basis, he said, adding that 50,000 job opportunities will be created in the next five year. "The wages of tea garden, agricultural labourers an

HM Amit Shah, Bengal CM Banerjee to arrive in poll-bound Tripura today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to arrive in Tripura on Monday to address two election rallies, and join a roadshow to boost the BJP's campaign in the poll-bound state, a party leader said. Elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 16. Counting will take place on March 2. During the visit, Amit Shah ji will address Vijay Sankalp' rallies in South Tripura's Santirbazar and Khowai, and attend a roadshow in Banamalipur constituency of Agartala, he said. Security arrangements have been tightened in the northeastern state in view of the Union minister's visit, a senior police officer said on Monday. Shah had participated in two Rath Yatras in Tripura last month, beginning the saffron party's campaign for the assembly polls. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also scheduled to arrive in the state on Monday, and attend a roadshow and address a public meeting on Tuesday. She will arrive on Monday evening and visit Udaipur to offer prayer

TMC releases manifesto for Tripura polls, vows Bengal model of development

The Trinamool Congress released its manifesto for the Tripura assembly elections on Sunday, promising 2 lakh new jobs, Rs 1,000 per month for school students in classes 4 to 8 and unemployed youths, and social welfare schemes on the lines of those in West Bengal. The manifesto was launched a day ahead of party chief Mamata Banerjee's visit to the state. The TMC is fighting 28 assembly seats in the February 16 election. Addressing a press conference, West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu said that if the party is voted to power in the state, it will create 2 lakh jobs in five years with 50,000 new jobs in the first year itself. "All vacant posts in the government departments will be filled up on mission mode," he said. "The TMC will provide assistance of Rs 1,000 per month to jobless youths, and 10,323 retrenched teachers will also get the benefit until their legal matter is resolved," he said. The TMC promised a skill university, student credit cards and easy loans for those

HM Amit Shah to address two election rallies in Tripura on Monday

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address two election rallies in Tripura on Monday, a senior party leader said. Shah is scheduled to land at MBB Airport here on Sunday at 11.30 pm. On Monday, Shah will address two election rallies at Khowai in Khowai district and Santirbazar in South Tripura district. The Union Minister will also join a road show in Agartala city on Monday, the senior party leader said. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha along with Yuva Morcha state president Nabadal Banik visited Khowai and Santir Bazar on Saturday to see the preparations for the two election rallies to be addressed by the Union Home Minister. Security arrangements have been beefed in the capital town in view of the road show to be led by the Union Home Minister, said a senior police officer on Sunday. Earlier, the Union Home Minister visited the state on January 5 and attended two Rath Yatras - one from North Tripura's Dharmanagar and another from South Tripura's Sabroom commencing the party's