Over 84% turnout in Tripura gram panchayat by-polls

Agartala: Over 84 per cent of the 27,651 electorate cast their votes on Wednesday in by-elections to 44 seats of three-tier panchayat system in Tripura, officials said.

"Over 84 per cent voters cast their votes in the by-elections to one Zilla Parishad, two Panchayat Samitis and 41 gram panchayat seats. Voting occurred peacefully and not a single untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the poll areas," State Election Commission secretary Prasenjit Bhattacherjee told IANS, adding percentage might increase after the final reports are received from the all returning officers

Police spokesman Uttam Kumar Bhowmik also said there was no report of any incident.

The votes will be counted on December 23.

The by-elections were held due to numerous reasons, including death of elected members. In all 136 candidates belonging to ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist, Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and Trinamool Congress were in the fray.