The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday has ordered re-polling in 168 polling stations of 26 Assembly constituencies of Tripura (West) constituency on May 12 next.
Also read: BJP smells opposition ‘conspiracy’ over demand of re-poll for Tripura West seat
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Re-polling was ordered on the basis of allegations of opposition parties alleging massive irregularities during voting in Tripura West Parliamentary Constituency.
Later a report was submitted by CEO, the special observer, general observers and returning officers on the basis of scrutiny of visuals of CCTV camera installed at the polling stations that prompted the ECI to order re-polling in 168 polling stations of 26 Assembly constituencies of Tripura (West) constituency.
Also read: Re-poll in many booths in Tripura West seat likely
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The re-polling in the West Tripura will be held on May 12 from 7 am to 5 pm.
Tripura West parliamentary seat had recorded around 85 per cent of voter turnout when the constituency went to polls on April 11.
Both Opposition CPI-M and Congress complained of massive booth capturing and false voting to the CEO and also the ECI.
On April 19 last, Congress and CPI-M in Tripura approached the poll panel and complained of massive poll rigging and booth capturing in Tripura West constituency.
Initially CPI-M alleged that in 466 booths out of the total 1679 in West Tripura were ‘rigged, voters were intimidated and forced to leave the booths and the agents of Left political parties were not allowed to enter inside the booths by the BJP workers’, but later demanded for a total fresh election for the constituency.
CPI-M general secretary, Sitaram Yechuri who along with two sitting MPs from his party one of them Sankar Prashad Datta who is again the contesting candidate meet the ECI at New Delhi.
They along with complaint of massive booth capturing also viewed that central forces were not seen in the booths.
Meantime, Congress candidate Subal Bhowmik accused BJP workers of intimidating and threatening voters.
Congress demanded repoll in the seat and also resignation of DGP, A K Shukla and Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti because police acted as silent spectators when booths were rigged before their eyes by BJP workers.
However, BJP candidate denied the allegations of Congress and CPI-M and viewed that the Opposition parties are demanding for repoll which is a ‘conspiracy’ to defame the people of the State who had exercised their franchise in a festive mood and voting was completely peaceful.
Meantime, several polling officials including presiding officer and micro observer have been suspended on the ground of inappropriate reporting of polling process and a top police official at the level of ADGP and the returning officer has been replaced.