Left Front gets two-third majority in Tripura Assembly

The Left Front was today poised to return to power in Tripura for a fifth straight term since 1993, winning 15 seats and leading in 37 others in the 60- member Assembly, and is headed for a two-third majority.

Congress has wound up with one seat and was leading in seven constituencies while its ally INPT and NCT have drawn a blank so far.

Among Left Front partners, CPI(M) has won 14 seats and CPI one.

Prominent winners of the Left Front are Jail Minister, Manindra Reang, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma and Industries Minister Jitendra Chowdhury.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is leading from Dhanpur.

Congress candidate Jitendra Sarkar has won from Barjala. Sarkar, a former speaker, had joined Congress.

The Left Front has established leads over the Opposition alliance of Congress, Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and National Congress of Tripura in 37 seats, according to available trends.

Counting of votes for the 60 Assembly seats in Tripura began at 8 am today amidst tight security.

The counting began at 17 venues in eight districts of the state with three-tier security in each counting hall, sources in the office of Chief Electoral Officer said.

Around 2,500 employees, including counting supervisors and counting assistants, have been engaged together with micro observers and Election Commission appointed observers.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed within 100 metre of each counting hall where CCTV have been installed.

The 856 kms border with neighbouring Bangladesh has been sealed since yesterday.

The elections were held on February 14.

Highlights

* Tripura CM Manik Sarkar won Dhanpur Assembly seat defeating his nearest Cong rival Shah Alam by 6,017 votes

* Ruling Left Front in Tripura gets two-third majority in 60-member Assembly with CPI(M) winning 45 seats and CPI one seat

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