Moderate polling in peaceful Tripura

An Indian paramilitary soldier stands alert over voters as they queue to cast their votes at a polling centre in Mahanpur, some 35 km west of Agartala yesterday during voting for Tripura state assembly elections. Photo: AFP

Moderate polling was recorded on Saturday in the northeastern state of Tripura in the single-phase assembly elections with no incidents of violence till the early afternoon, officials said.
"Polling began at 7 am with men and women queuing up in large numbers to cast their votes in 60 assembly constituencies," said GSG Ayyangar, the chief electoral officer.
According to Ayyangar, more than 50 per cent votes had been cast by 1.30 pm and the tempo was expected to increase as the day progressed.
New voters and women appeared the most enthusiastic.
"I expect over 80 per cent voting when polling ends at 4 pm," Ayyangar said.
In some of the polling stations, technical trouble with electronic voting machines (EVM) halted voting for brief periods.