Tripura Assembly Election 2023 News: Voting for the Tripura Assembly Elections 2023 took place on Thursday (February 16). The Election Commission reported that the election was largely violence-free and Bru migrant voters were able to cast their vote for the first time in many years. About 81 percent polling has been estimated in the state. The exact polling figures will be known by Friday (February 17). Election Commission officials said that so far no complaint has been received regarding the demand for re-polling.
According to news agency PTI, the poll panel said, “There has been no report of any major violence or assault on candidates or (polling) agents, intimidation of voters, hurling of bombs, re-polling or damage to EVMs.” ‘
Officials said that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 168 re-polling complaints were received in the state. In comparison to that, on Thursday (February 16), votes were cast in 60 assembly seats of the state. The polling was largely peaceful and no demand for re-poll has been reported so far. Officials said minor incidents of violence were reported, which were immediately attended to by local teams.
Bru voters cast their vote after many years
Officials said that for the first time in many years, Bru migrant voters were able to exercise their franchise. Special efforts were made to involve the Bru community in the franchise process. 14,055 eligible Bru people were enrolled as voters to vote at 12 locations in the state. Bru voters cast their votes in four districts.
Who are Bru voters?
According to the Government of India, people of 75 tribal groups live in 18 states and Andaman-Nicobar of the country. Bru is one of them. Bru is also called Riang. The Bru tribals have been living as refugees in Tripura for nearly two and a half decades and are struggling to settle down. Their number is said to be more than 35 thousand. In 2020, the Modi government at the Center announced an economic package of Rs 600 crore for the Bru refugees in the state. Their ancestors are said to be from the mountainous regions of Shan province of Myanmar, who later settled in Mizoram. In 1996, there was a bloody conflict in Mizoram between the majority (Mizo) people and the Bru tribals over the issue of Autonomous District Council, due to which half of the Bru population migrated to Tripura in October 1997.
What happened in this election?
According to commission officials, Rs 44.67 crore was recovered this time as compared to the 2018 assembly elections. It has increased 25 times as the amount recovered in 2018 was Rs 1.79 crore. Officials said that apart from cash, all items such as liquor, drugs, precious metals and free gifts saw an increase in seizures.
Election officials cited a statement by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar that violence before, during and after elections has been confined to a few states and there is no place for election violence in a democracy. Let us tell you that the results of Tripura assembly elections will come out on March 2.
