The ruling BJP has won 71 percent of the panchayat seats without voting! Panchayat polls in Tripura on August 8.

The information released by the State Election Commission (Tripura State Election Commission) after the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers, shows that voters will have the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights in only 29 percent of the Gram Panchayat seats!

Because, out of a total of 6889 seats in the three levels of the panchayat, 4805 were won unopposed by the ‘LOTUS’ symbol candidates.

In the 1,819 gram panchayat seats where polling will be held, the BJP has candidates in 1,809 seats, the CPI(M) has fielded nominees in 1,222 and the Congress in 731 seats, State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary Asit Kumar Das said.

Soon after the announcement of panchayat elections, allegations of violence and intimidation were leveled against the ruling party by the opposition Left, Congress in Tripura.