Clashes break out in Tripura as BJP seals panchayat victory

AGARTALA: Sealing what was already a confirmed victory, BJP swept the elections to the 15% panchayat seats up for contest on July 27, winning 95% of them. It had earlier won 85% of the 6,646 seats uncontested.
Congress turned out to be the only significant contender for these seats, reversing the trend in the assembly election, when it did not manage to win a single seat.CPM, on the other hand, has been nearly decimated in the rural polls this time.
"Of the 994 panchayat seats up for contest, BJP won 789, followed by Congress (166), CPM (23) and BJP ally IPFT (six)," state election commissioner GK Rao said on Thursday. Counting of votes had begun on Wednesday.
BJP won 638 of the 833 gram panchayat seats, followed by Congress (158), CPM (22) and IPFT (six). BJP won 74 of the 82 panchayat samity seats, while Congress won six and CPM one. One seat went to an Independent. In zilla parishad polls, BJP won 77 of the 79 seats while Congress won the remaining two.
As the counting was under way, clashes broke out between Congress and BJP supporters in Kailashahar, headquarters of Unakoti district in north Tripura, with both parties blaming each other for the violence. Police have registered a case against a local BJP youth leader but no arrest has been made so far.
"BJP cadres, led by its MLA Bhagaban Das, assaulted Congress workers on Wednesday. However, the cops took prompt action that averted major casualties," senior Congress Birajit Sinha said. He added that the security forces resorted to baton charge to disperse the mobs. Left Front chairperson Bijan Dhar said BJP did not allow the opposition to field candidates in the 85% seats that it won uncontested. "Where the polls did take place, a large number of voters were prevented from exercising their franchise," he added.
Denying the allegations, BJP saw the victory as a mandate against the "negative and anti-development attitude of the opposition". BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee said, "Congress and CPM have joined hands" to conspire against the ruling party."