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High turnout in Tripura panchayat polls

By Prabir sil

AGARTALA, July 15 � Tripura recorded 86 polling percentage in the three-tier panchayat elections till 4 pm amidst tight security, according to official sources.

Though there was no major incident during the day-long polling, some sporadic incidents of proxy voting and scuffles were reported to the police. However, by and large, the polling was peaceful.

Defying the sweltering heat, voters were seen in queue at different polling stations to exercise their franchise. Even as the polling percentage was thin till 12 pm, it started gaining momentum with the advancement of the day.

�According to indications, the polling percentage may cross 90 per cent with large numbers of voters seen in the polling booths. We are compiling the reports from the Returning Officers and hopefully will be able to tell the true picture later�, said secretary of Tripura State Election Commission (TSEC) Tamal Majumder here on Tuesday.

While opposition parties � Congress, BJP and Trinamool Congress are up in arms over the polling process, the ruling Left Front congratulated the voters for joining the election in strong numbers.

A total of 10.20 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the elections. Altogether, 13,754 candidates are in the fray. 591 poll-bound Gram Panchayats have 6,111 seats, of which elections would be held in 5125 seats only as ruling CPM has already won 980 unopposed.

In 35 Panchayat Samitis, the election would be held in 381 seats while 38 seats have already been won by CPM candidates uncontested. In eight Zilla Parisads, the election would be held in 114 seats as two seats have already been captured by CPM nominees unopposed.

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