Tripura assembly election LIVE: Polling begins in 59 of the total 60 seats; voters say ‘want development in state’

Around 25 lakh voters in Tripura will decide on Sunday whether to continue with the ruling CPI(M) or opt for the new challenger, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the first direct contest between the two parties in the country.

Polling is being held in 59 of the total 60 constituencies.

Voting in Charilam seat would be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma, five days ago.

The results for Tripura will be announced on March 3, with that of Nagaland and Meghalaya, which will go to polls on February 27.

Here are the LIVE updates:

8.50am: BJP Tripura president Biplab Kumar Deb cast his vote in Udaipur. Deb says, “These election results will be historic, we will definitely win. PM & Amit Shah ji called me & gave good wishes.”

Tripura BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb casts his vote on Sunday. (ANI Twitter)

8.15am: The CPI(M) dubbed “unusual” the appointment of a special observer for the Assembly election in Tripura on Saturday and objected to his closed-door meeting with the state BJP president.

8.10am: Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the chief minister, led the CPI(M)’s campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state.

8am: “Men and women in large numbers queued up in front of many polling stations well before polling opened at 7 a.m. in the entire state. Polling ends at 4 p.m.,” said Sriram Taranikanti, the Chief Electoral Officer.

7.45am: “We want a government that can push for development in the state,” say people outside a polling booth in Udaipur.

#TripuraElection2018: People queue to cast their votes at polling booth number 31/34 in Tripura's Udaipur, say, 'we want a government that can push for development in the state.' pic.twitter.com/oeck7Eg76e

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018

7.30am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges people of Tripura to cast their vote.

I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2018

7.15am:The much-awaited polling in this northeastern state will decide the electoral fortunes of 292 candidates, including 23 women. The BJP and the Congress party are looking to root out the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has been ruling the state for the past 25 years.

7.10am: “Apprehending troubles by some tribal outfit, a record 50,000 paramilitary and other state security personnel have been deployed while two air surveillance team led by senior officials are conducting surveillance by helicopters,” Sriram Taranikanti, the Chief Electoral Officer, said.

7am: Polling begins for 59 out of the total 60 seats.

Voters stand in a queue outside a polling booth in Udaipur, Tripura, on Sunday. (ANI Twitter)