Agartala, Apr 19 (UNI) An estimated 81 per cent voter turnout was recorded across 1,685 polling booths in Tripura in first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday.
The election was nearly peaceful and all the complaints that EC got at various levels had been addressed, official sources said.
One BJP supporter, identified as Dilip Datta, was arrested for allegedly disturbing the election process in a booth of the city.
Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc demanded to cancel the elections to West Tripura LS constituency and Ramnagar by-poll, alleging large-scale rigging and manipulation of the election process.
The INDIA bloc leaders alleged that BJP has organised pre-planned rigging and made the elections a complete farce.
BJP has started threatening of dire consequences if any one dares to discharge responsibility as polling agent of the opposition bloc, alleged INDIA bloc candidate Ashish Kumar Saha.
He alleged that a widespread voter fraud attributed to influx of outsiders and termed it as a mockery of
democracy in both the general election and the by-election.
"The surge in fake votes, largely orchestrated by external elements, has marred the electoral process. Hence, it is imperative to annul the by-elections and conduct fresh polls," he asserted.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman accused BJP of harboring ambitions for a third consecutive term, citing lapses in the Election Commission's security measures at polling stations.
"The absence of a three-tier security system paved the way for irregularities, evident from the sudden spike in voting post 1400 hours, facilitated by the influx of outsiders engaged in fraudulent practices," he alleged and stated that such a tainted electoral process cannot be deemed legitimate.
Meanwhile, Left Front convener Narayan Kar alleged that a staggering 80 per cent of opposition polling agents was forcibly ousted from polling stations, paving the way for rampant voter manipulation.
"External elements were brazenly brought into the constituencies and sheltered in the ruling party's premises since Thursday night. On Friday, they resorted to obstructive tactics, impeding voters' access to polling stations by blocking thoroughfares," Kar claimed.
Refuting the allegations, BJP's state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said INDIA bloc leaders have been spreading lies to save their face because Congress and CPI-M were unable to send agents in most of the polling stations.
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