Polling for two parliamentary seats in Tripura was held in 2 phases on April 11 and 18. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared "void", polls held at 168 polling stations in Tripura West parliamentary constituency on April 11 and has ordered re-polling on May 12. "After taking all material circumstances into account, the Election Commission declared under Sub-Sections (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that the poll taken on April 11, 2019, at 168 polling stations in 1-Tripura West parliamentary constituency against the assembly segments to be void and appoints May 12 at the date and fix hours from 7 am to 5 pm for taking a fresh poll," an official statement said. The assembly segments in Tripura West include Simna (ST), Mohanpur, Bamutia (SC), Barjala (SC), Khayerpur, Ramnagar, Town Bordowali, Majlishpur, Mandai Bazar, Takarjala (ST), Pratapgarh (SC), Badharghat (SC), Kamalasagar, Bishalgarh, Golghati, Charilam, Boxanagar, Nalchar, Sonamura, Dhanpur, Bagma (ST), Radhakishorepur, Matabari, Kakraban-Salgarah (SC), Rajnagar (SC) and Belonia. The ECI directed the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to ensure that wide publicity is given in the polling areas. It also directed the official to inform political parties and contesting candidates about the fresh poll. As per ECI, the voter turnout in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections conducted across 18 states and two Union Territories on April 11 was 69.43 per cent. Tripura was among the five states that saw the highest voter turnout. "84.96 per cent from Lakshadweep; 83.79 per cent from West Bengal, 83.26 per cent from Tripura, 83.12 per cent from Nagaland and 82.82 per cent from Manipur," the EC said. Polling for two parliamentary constituencies in Tripura was held in two phases - on April 11 and 18. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.<doc-sep>Repoll in polling stations, spread over 26 of 30 assembly segments of the West Tripura constituency, will take place on May 12. The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered a repoll at 168 polling stations out of 1700 in the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, thereby rejecting the demand from major opposition parties to hold fresh election in entire constituency. Repoll in polling stations, spread over 26 of 30 assembly segments of the West Tripura constituency, will take place on May 12. The announcement ended the month-long suspense over the fate of the April 11 elections in the constituency marred by allegations of massive rigging, booth capturing and irregularities. Opposition Congress and CPI (M) accused the BJP of reducing the election into a farce, and demanded a repoll in the entire constituency. “We are not happy with the decision of the commission. BJP had rigged the entire constituency, so repoll in a fraction [of polling stations] will not reflect aspiration of voters,” the Congress candidate from West Tripura Subal Bhowmik told The Hindu. CPI(M) leader and former assembly Deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar said the announcement had no real meaning in wake of the demand for a repoll in entire constituency. He said the party would formally give its response later in the day. State BJP has not issued a statement on the announcement. Meanwhile additional paramilitary contingents began arriving in Tripura for deployment during the re-poll exercise. State election department officials said central forces would be deployed in all of polling booths going to re-election on May 12. The commission earlier removed West Tripura returning officer Sandeep Mahatme and ADG Rajiv Singh in view of complaints from different quarters. Several polling staffs were arrested and terminated from service for laxity in duty during April 11 elections.<doc-sep>Senior Congress leader said that BJP is getting access to government documents; Tapas Dey demanded an inquiry into it. Agartala: A senior Congress leader in Tripura on Tuesday said the party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) alleging that the BJP is getting access to government documents and has demanded an inquiry into it. A BJP delegation had met the Chief Election Commissioner on 2 May and submitted a memorandum demanding the removal of Tripura Chief Electoral Officer. Tripura Congress vice president Tapas Dey said that "Documents attached in the BJP memorandum to the CEC include a letter of the Returning Officer addressed to the chief secretary of Tripura, a representation by Tripura Civil Service Association and the chief secretary's letter to the ECI." Dey said the BJP was "not supposed" to have access to such government documents and alleged they were given to the saffron party in an "unauthorised manner" and demanded an inquiry into it. Dey said he has lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner on Monday about the BJP getting access to official letters and documents. Earlier, the opposition Congress and CPM had both lodged complaints of alleged large scale rigging and irregularities in the elections in West Tripura constituency, which went to poll on 11 April. Both the parties have demanded fresh elections in the constituency. BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya denied the allegations of Dey about leakage of official documents to the BJP. He said that the role of the Chief Electoral Officer was not "impartial", so the saffron party had demanded his removal.<doc-sep>
Fresh polling will be held across 168 booths of the West Tripura Parliamentary constituency on May 12. (Photo: Representational image) The Election Commission of India (EC) on Wednesday declared polling across 168 booths of Tripura West parliamentary constituency as void and ordered a re-polling on May 12 along with the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. "After taking all material circumstances into account, the Election Commission declared under Sub-Sections (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that the polling on April 11, 2019, at 168 polling stations in 1-Tripura West parliamentary constituency against the assembly segments to be void and appoints May 12 as the date and fix hours from 7 am to 5 pm for taking a fresh poll," an official statement said. While polling was held in the concerned Tripura booths on April 11, the Congress and CPI(M) had lodged complaints of misconduct and rigging in the elections held in West Tripura constituency. Both the parties accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misconduct- booth capturing and intimidation-and demanded re-polling in the constituency, reported news agency IANS. Reports also emerged that Congress and CPI(M) were planning to move SC in case EC fails to order fresh polls or re-polling across 50 per cent booths in the constituency. The EC has directed the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to ensure wide publicity is given in the polling areas and directed the official to inform political parties about the fresh polling. Meanwhile, 15 additional companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed for re-polling in the Tripura West parliamentary constituency. "On the advice of the Election Commission (EC), the Ministry has deployed 11 companies of the Border Security Force and four of the Central Reserve Police Force," the official told IANS on the condition of anonymity. Earlier, polling in East Tripura parliamentary constituency was also deferred from the second phase, held on April 18, to the third phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 on April 23.