Agartala: Around 80.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the by-election to Tripura’s 56-Dharmanagar Assembly constituency on Thursday, officials said, even as opposition parties alleged irregularities and intimidation at several polling stations.
Polling was held from 7 am across 55 booths under security arrangements. A total of 46,142 voters, including 23,758 women, were eligible to vote to decide the fate of six candidates from the BJP, Congress, CPI(M)-led Left Front, Amra Bangali, SUCI, and an Independent.
Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee alleged a sudden increase in voting towards the end of polling hours and claimed that party agents were removed from booths. CPI(M) candidate Amitabha Dutta also alleged that Left polling agents were expelled from several locations and said security arrangements were inadequate.
CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, however, thanked voters for participating in the polling. In a statement, he said voters turned out “braving threats and intimidation” and described the election as “by and large peaceful, barring a couple of incidents.”
He also alleged that Left polling agents were driven out of booth number 6 and appealed to all political parties to maintain a similar atmosphere on the day of counting to ensure a free and fair process.
The BJP rejected the allegations. Party Vice President Tapas Bhattacharjee told reporters that the polling was conducted peacefully and expressed confidence in the outcome.
Journalists covering the election reported incidents of intimidation during the day. The situation normalised after media personnel confronted those involved, according to sources present at the spot.
Officials said arrangements were made to ensure inclusive participation, with some polling stations manned by women personnel, differently-abled staff, and youth teams.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA and Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen in December 2025.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.