AGARTALA: Crude bomb explosions near a polling station in Boxanagar, stone-pelting on a candidate’s vehicle in Mandai, and allegations of booth-agent expulsions marked the TTAADC General Election 2026 in Tripura on Sunday, April 12, as 7,94,779 of the 9,51,613 registered voters turned out across 28 constituencies by close of polling at 4 PM, recording an overall turnout of 83.52 per cent.
The polls, contested by 173 candidates across 1,257 polling stations, opened at 7 AM in a triangular contest among the BJP, the incumbent TIPRA Motha Party, and the CPI(M)-led Left Front, with the Congress and IPFT also in the fray.
The most serious incident of the day took place in the Veluarchar area of Boxanagar in Sepahijala district, where some miscreants allegedly backed by BJP MLA Tafajjal Hossain hurled crude bombs near a polling station at Jaharjala Senior Basic School in Dayal Para ADC Village.
It is learned that at least six crude bombs were thrown in the vicinity, triggering panic among voters and injuring one individual who was rushed to hospital. Security personnel moved in quickly to restore order.
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However, the vehicle of BJP candidate Nirmal Debbarma was allegedly vandalized in Takarjala, where central paramilitary forces had to intervene to disperse a mob. Violence was also reported from Kathalia and Birchandranagar-Kalashi constituencies.
TIPRA Motha leaders alleged that Boxanagar BJP MLA Tafajjal Hossain was physically present at a polling booth during voting hours, which would constitute a potential Model Code of Conduct violation. CPI(M) leader Radhacharan Debbarma, meanwhile, alleged that party polling agents were thrown out of several booths across multiple constituencies.
EVM malfunctions were reported from Bodhjungnagar-Wakinagar, Ampinagar, Takarjala-Jampuijala, Ramchandraghat, and Silachari-Manu-Bankul constituencies. Election officials, however, said faulty machines were replaced without much delay and polling was not significantly affected.
Women voters cast 3,99,799 ballots against 3,94,979 by male voters, with women slightly outpacing men at the booths. Among the 28 constituencies, Purba Muhuripur-Buratli recorded the highest turnout at 89.91 per cent, while Damcherra-Jampui posted the lowest at 69.09 per cent. The lone transgender voter in Bodhjungnagar-Wakkinagar cast a ballot, recording 100 per cent participation from that category. Vote counting is scheduled for April 17, 2026.
