Dharmanagar By-Poll : Rain, EVM Glitches & Media Obstruction—Despite Tensions, 80.04% Voter Turnout In Dharmanagar.

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Dharmanagar, Tripura, 9th of April, 2026 : Voting for the by-election in the 56-Dharmanagar constituency of North Tripura began on Thursday morning. Although early hours were affected by rain, voter turnout picked up significantly as the day progressed.According to the Election Commission, voter turnout stood at 33.24% till 11 AM, which increased to 52.76% by 1 PM. By the end of polling at 5 PM, the overall turnout reached 80.04%, which officials described as highly encouraging.

District Magistrate and Election Officer Chandni Chandran stated that while rainfall in the morning led to lower turnout in some booths, the situation improved later. “Once the weather normalized, voter enthusiasm increased noticeably. The final turnout has been good,” she said.The administration claimed that polling was largely peaceful and conducted in a free and fair manner across most booths. Security arrangements were tight, and voters expressed satisfaction with the Election Commission’s services. Special arrangements were also made for women and elderly voters at various polling stations.However, a few isolated incidents were reported during the day.

At Booth No. 42, a technical malfunction in an EVM temporarily halted voting, which later resumed after prompt repairs.Candidates from various political parties also exercised their franchise. BJP candidate Johar Chakraborty expressed confidence in victory. “Amra Bangali” party candidate Bibhas Ranjan Das voiced trust in public support, while CPI(M) candidate Amitabh Dutta cast his vote at Dharmanagar Girls’ High School.Meanwhile, tension was reported at a polling station in the Chandrapur area. At a booth set up in the office of the Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, chaos reportedly erupted during an interview with Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee.

It was alleged that some individuals violated the 100-meter rule and obstructed journalists. Similar allegations emerged from the Model Polling Station No. 24 in Chandrapur, where some outsiders reportedly posed as supporters of a particular political party and disrupted media coverage.Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee raised multiple allegations of irregularities, claiming that attempts were made to create voter congestion and manipulate the voting process. He urged immediate intervention by the Election Commission and stressed the need to ensure the safety of journalists.

Overall, despite rain, EVM issues, and a few scattered tensions, polling in the Dharmanagar by-election concluded in a largely peaceful atmosphere. Officials believe that active voter participation has reinforced the democratic process.After the conclusion of voting, all EVMs were transported to strong rooms under tight security.