On average 79.55 percent of voters cast their votes till 5 PM in Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, where polling was conducted amidst tight security cover and the entire polling process was by and large peaceful.

There are reports of malfunctioning of EVMs in few polling stations and boycott of votes by villagers demanding development of their local areas.

But sources in the election department here said that the percentage may go up further after final computation of all votes polled and after they receive the feedback from the presiding officers.

Official sources said that around 1050 voters of Maldapara village under Ganganagar RD Bloc of Dhalai district has boycotted the voting process demanding the immediate construction of their village road, drinking water facilities etc and a presiding officer, Ajit Chandra Das posted at 13 polling station under 29-Krishnapur assembly constituency under East Tripura has been suspended by poll officials for dereliction in duty.

No major untoward incident has been reported from anywhere but stray incidents like threats and intimidation of voters and polling agents have been reported. According to the press note circulated by the election commission Hrishyamukh assembly segment of Belonia subdivision recorded the highest turnout of 85.13% votes but the constituency had witnessed large scale irregularities. The lowest turnout was recorded in the Ampinagar assembly segment at 68.53%.

There are however allegations that in Khowai subdivision from last night the anti-social elements of BJP had started threatening and intimidating voters from house to house not to go to cast their votes. A senior leader of the CPI (M) said that after 2-00 PM today the BJP supporters had captured all the polling booths and rigged the polls. The BJP sources however said that the polling was peaceful and undisturbed and CPI (M)- Congress were making false allegations.

Election officials said that with the deployment of Central and state forces including Tripura State Rifles (TSR), heavy security arrangements have been made in the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat to foil any incidents of violence.

All arrangements have been made for Friday's polling for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat in which nine candidates are in the fray.

With assurance of ‘zero poll violence’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the poll day delivered sufficient equipment and accessories of all polling staff with adequate training to tackle any kind of technical glitch in EVMs.

Giving details Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura, Puneet Agarwal said a total electorate of 13,96,761 will cast their votes in 1,664 polling booths across 30 assembly constituencies and all polling stations will be covered with web-casting and videography.  Among the total polling booths, 158 in urban areas, 1506 in rural areas with 1365 polling locations.

He said that many polling stations will be managed exclusively by women poll personnel with women central forces while there will be model polling stations; besides there will be few more polling stations for casting votes by persons with disability (PWD) including 13 would be model polling stations with all basic facilities for the voters and 12 would be all women managed polling stations.

This time, altogether 16,260 Bru voters will cast their votes from 17 polling stations spreading in Dhalai, North and Gomati districts of Tripura under East Tripura PC, said Agarwal.

He urged the voters of the Lok Sabha seat to cast their vote without any fear and the Commission has made sufficient arrangements in every polling station for voters to get rid of hot and humid weather.

A large contingent of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and state forces, including Tripura State Rifles (TSR) have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident in the elections to the tribal reserve parliamentary constituency.  Though there are nine candidates, including two women, contesting in the Lok Sabha seat, the main electoral battle is expected to be held between ruling BJP and the opposition CPI(M).

Returning Officer Saju Vaheed A. said that over 16,260 Reang tribal voters, who were recently rehabilitated in different districts of Tripura after being displaced from neighbouring Mizoram following ethnic troubles there, would also cast their votes in the Lok Sabha seat.

Of the 1,664 polling stations, 61 are model polling stations with all basic facilities for the voters. Besides this, 67 are all women-managed polling stations and 30 are manned by physically challenged polling officials.

Though there are nine candidates in the fray, the main contest is expected between BJP candidate Kriti Singh Debbarma, elder sister of Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma and CPI(M)'s Rajendra Reang, a former MLA.

Reang is the nominee of the opposition INDIA Bloc, comprising the Congress, Left and other parties.

Over 10,000 polling personnel are conducting the voting in the tribal reserved Parliamentary constituency. Polling would continue till 5 p.m. without any interruption.