Tripura polls: High turnout gives hope to Left, BJP

  • | Tuesday | 20th February, 2018

"BJP, on the other hand, said the high turnout this time is different because the "votes are genuine". GUWAHATI: The high voter turnout in Tripura has raised hopes for both the ruling Left Front and challenger BJP . The theory holds little ground in Tripura, which has consistently registered high polling percentage, at more than 80% since 1983. The polling percentage on Sunday, slow at first, picked up pace and touched nearly 90%, the third highest in Tripura's history. This time, the high turnout was a call for change.

GUWAHATI: The high voter turnout in Tripura has raised hopes for both the ruling Left Front and challenger BJP . The polling percentage on Sunday, slow at first, picked up pace and touched nearly 90%, the third highest in Tripura's history. It is likely to cross the 90%-mark once postal ballots are taken into account."The final voting percentage stands at 89.8%. The returning officers are still in the process of entering the numbers in their respective booths into the system. The formal percentage is expected to go further up when the postal ballots are taken into account. It should be around 90%," Tripura chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti said. "Tripura is known for such high turnout and has lived up to its name this time as well, though with a slightly lower percentage than the previous two elections," he added.Voter turnout is often taken as an indicator of the fortunes of political parties, the thumb rule being that higher turnouts suggest a verdict against the ruling party. The theory holds little ground in Tripura, which has consistently registered high polling percentage, at more than 80% since 1983. The only exception was 2003, when it went down to 78.71%. The CEO refrained from analysing the voting trend and what message it carries for the two other states going to the polls, Nagaland and Meghalaya. Any comment from an election official about the outcome would be deemed a violation of norms."No theory holds true for Tripura. The high polling percent is normal. We are confident that the people have voted for us, the way they always have," CPM Tripura secretary Bijan Dhar said. Dismissing any "anti-incumbency" factor, let alone a wave, Dhar added, "Why will people vote against a government that is democratic, pro-poor and not authoritarian?"BJP, on the other hand, said the high turnout this time is different because the "votes are genuine". Sunil Deodhar , BJP's Tripura observer, said, "All these years, under Left rule, Tripura has been more politically active than other parts of the country. The difference this time is that the polling percentage was reached through genuine voting. It was not through fake voters or booth-capturing - what the Left hasdone all this while. This time, the high turnout was a call for change."Akhil Ranjan Dutta, professor of political science at Gauhati University, said, "There are three things that can be gleaned from the turnout in Tripura. One, Left may have retained its support base. Second, BJP's extravagant campaigning may have failed to make an impact on voters. And finally, the slight dip in polling percentage since last time is probably due to Congress not being able to mobilize its traditional voters."

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