Agartala, June 23 (UNI): Amid violence, and allegations from opposition parties of booth capturing and intimidation, an average of 34% of voters cast their franchise in the first four hours in bypolls to four Tripura Assembly constituencies on Thursday.
A policeman was stabbed and an electronic media journalist beaten up in Agartala constituency. Allegations of disturbances were also received from Surma constituency in Dhalai district.
Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte, however, said: “Barring a few stray incidents of threat and intimidation, the voting process is going on peacefully.”
“In some locations, polling got delayed because of EVM issues and election officials are moving around to ensure elections are free and fair,” Gitte said.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is in the fary as a candidate of the ruling BJP from Bardowali, claimed the opposition parties were making “wild allegations” as they were afraid of losing the bypoll.
