By-election going on peacefully in Tripura's Khowai

By-election is going on peacefully in the Khowai constituency that has been vacant since the death of veteran CPI-M legislator Samir Deb Sarkar two months back.

Under tight security by-elections started in the Khowai assembly constituency along with the Scheduled Caste (reserved) Barjala constituency from 7 a.m.

Both the Opposition and ruling parties are considering these by-polls significant as the state is going for the crucial assembly polls in the next 14 months time.

Security arrangements with central paramilitary along with Tripura State Rifles were made to hold the by-elections in both the assembly segments peacefully and smoothly.

The voters expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements.

Rija Das, mother of a toddler after casting her vote said, "My child is very small and so I came early and now returning after casting my vote. I am very happy."

While, Jaita Datta a first time voter said, "Every time I use to come with my mother and wished if I could vote. Now today for the first time I have voted and I am very excited."

The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two assembly seats and for the first time webcasting of the polling is also taking place.

Meantime, the Barjala seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Jitendra Sarkar resigned on June 6 following an internal feud within the party while.

Both by-polls would be four-cornered contests, among Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Front, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

Five candidates each are contesting from the two constituencies. In all 39,007 voters, including 18,935 females, will be eligible to cast ballot in the Barjala constituency. In Khowai, 39,400 voters are eligible, among them 19,436 are women.