Election – Voting begins for Nagaland and Tripura bypolls under tight security

 Election – Polling for by-elections in two northeastern assembly constituencies—Koridang in Nagaland and Dharmanagar in Tripura—commenced at 7 am on Thursday, with authorities reporting steady early participation and extensive security arrangements to ensure smooth voting. Within the first two hours, turnout figures touched nearly 20% in Koridang and crossed 15.63% in Dharmanagar, indicating an active response from voters.

Voting arrangements and early turnout in Tripura

In Tripura’s Dharmanagar constituency, located in North Tripura district, a total of 46,142 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. Notably, women voters slightly outnumber men, with 23,758 female voters compared to 22,348 male voters.

Polling is being conducted across 55 booths, all of which opened on schedule. Election officials reported orderly queues forming early in the day as citizens arrived to participate in the democratic process. Measures such as webcasting at every polling station and the use of electronic voting machines paired with VVPAT systems have been implemented to enhance transparency and voter confidence.

Officials also confirmed that precautionary arrangements have been made in view of possible adverse weather conditions, including forecasts of a cyclone between April 8 and April 10. Temporary shelters have been installed at polling centres to protect voters from potential disruptions.

Multi-cornered contest in Dharmanagar

The Dharmanagar by-election was necessitated by the passing of Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen in December. The contest has drawn candidates from multiple political formations, with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Left Front, and the Congress contesting independently.

This has turned the election into a closely watched political contest, as each party aims to secure voter support in a constituency with a balanced demographic profile.

Polling process in Nagaland’s Koridang seat

Meanwhile, voting in Nagaland’s Koridang constituency is being conducted across 30 polling stations and will continue until 4 pm. A total electorate of 22,382 voters, including 11,071 women, is eligible to participate.

The by-election in Koridang was triggered by the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen in November last year. Six candidates are competing for the seat, making it another multi-candidate contest.

Heightened security and sensitive booths

Authorities have identified several polling stations in Koridang as sensitive. Out of the total, 13 booths have been classified as vulnerable, while 17 have been marked as critical. In response, additional security personnel have been deployed, and surveillance measures have been intensified to prevent any untoward incidents.

Two polling stations in the constituency are being managed entirely by women staff, reflecting efforts to promote inclusivity in the electoral process.

Security measures have been further strengthened following incidents of election-related violence reported earlier in April, which resulted in one fatality and damage to several vehicles. Officials have emphasized their commitment to ensuring a peaceful and orderly voting environment.

Focus on free and fair elections

Election authorities in both states have reiterated their preparedness to conduct free, fair, and transparent polls. From technological safeguards like webcasting and VVPATs to physical security arrangements and weather preparedness, multiple layers of planning have been put in place.

The smooth conduct of polling during the early hours suggests that administrative measures are effectively supporting the electoral process.

Counting schedule and next steps

The counting of votes for both the Koridang and Dharmanagar assembly seats is scheduled for May 4. The results are expected to provide insights into the current political landscape in the region, particularly in constituencies affected by recent vacancies.

As polling continues through the day, officials are closely monitoring turnout and security conditions to ensure that the voting process remains uninterrupted.