Polling in Tripura East LS Seat Deferred to 23 April, Confirms EC

“The law and order situation prevailing is not conducive to holding of free and fair poll,” the poll panel has said.

In this 10 April, 2019, photo, polling officials wait to receive electronic voting machines and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). Image used for representational purpose only.

(Photo: AP)

The Election Commission announced its decision to postpone voting in the Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat to the third phase on 23 April from 18 April, saying the prevailing law-and-order situation is not conducive for holding free and fair poll.

Citing reports of state chief electoral officer and special police observer, the poll panel said, “The law and order situation prevailing is not conducive to the holding of free and fair poll (sic).” The returning officer had feared that “miscreant elements” may thwart the polling process in the constituency.

Based on the ground and intelligence reports, he had requested for additional central police force.

Polling Scheduled for 23 April

Polling will now be held on 23 April (Tuesday) by which time the law-and-order situation in the constituency would improve and become conducive to the holding of free and fair election, the EC said.

East Tripura constituency is spread across 30 Assembly segments and six districts and altogether 10 candidates, including those of the ruling BJP, Congress and the CPI-M are in the fray for it.

Ruling BJP candidate Rebati Mohan Tripura, sitting MP Jitendra Chowdhury of the CPI (M) and Pragya Dev Burman of the Congress are among those contesting from the seat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri campaigned for the respective party candidates in the high voltage canvassing.

Move Vindicates Our Claim: Congress

Congress’ Pradyot Kishore has lauded the move by the EC and said that postponement by the EC “vindicates mass scale rigging in Tripura”.

“There is admittance at some level that polls in Tripura on 11 April was not free and fair as claimed by BJP government in state,” Kishore said, reported ANI.

(With inputs from PTI)