The three-tier gram panchayat elections in Tripura witnessed a voter turn out of over 75% in the election process that went peacefully in the state.

According to a State Election Commission official, except two clashes between the BJP and Congress workers, no other incident was reported on the day.

Tight security was put in place with 6,000 Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans, 3,000 Tripura Police personnel and 17 companies of BSF and CRPF personnel pressed for poll duty.

Polls were held in only 15 percent of the total seats as 85 percent seats have already been won by the ruling BJP unopposed. Polls were held in 833 gram panchayat seats, 82 panchayat samiti seats and 79 zilla parishad seats.

There are a total of 6,111 gram panchayat seats, 419 panchayat samiti seats and 116 zilla parishad seats in Tripura.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) state committee member Pabitra Kar alleged that the BJP workers intimidated the voters from the previous night and did not allow a large section of voters to go the polling stations for casting votes.

Left Front chairman Bijan Dhar, however, had a different view of the situation. He alleged that BJP goons were preventing voters from going to polling stations. “More than 50 CPM voters and supporters were assaulted today (Saturday). We hold the chief minister responsible for the situation, as he has failed to restore peace in the state. Several videos on social media show irregularities in polling stations. We demand immediate action against those responsible.”

BJP however denied the charges saying the people came out to vote with enthusiasm.

The election took place in areas beyond the jurisdiction of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, which has its own local-level set-up called ‘Village Council’ that will go to poll next year.

Counting will take place on July 31.