Voting started in the country’s northeastern state Tripura on Sunday morning. Chief Election Officer Shriram Taranikanti said, “Before the Voting begins at 7 am in the state, men and women are standing in long queues at many Voting Points.”
The Manik Sarkar, involved in the race to become Chief Minister for the fifth time, led the CPI (M) campaign and addressed nearly 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat also supported the party’s campaign. At the same time, the Congress campaign was somewhat lightweight. Party President Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district. On the last day of the campaign, a total of 307 candidates are in the race in these elections.
The CPI (M) is contesting in 57 seats while the other Left parties RSP, All India Forward Bloc and CPI have filed nomination for each seat. Congress will contest 59 seats. The party has not fielded any candidate from the Kakrabon assembly seat of Gomti district. Today 3,214 polling booths will be held from seven in the morning to four o’clock in the evening. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Modok said that the counting of votes will be done on March 3.
