AGARTALA, Feb 18 (TIWN): Tripura’s crucial Assembly Election has begun across 59 constituencies since 7 AM at 3,174 polling stations. The constituency at Charilam was postponed due to CPI-M candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma's death on February 11. A total 25,734,13 voters, male 13,05,375,female 12,68,027 and 11 of Third gender are eligible cast vote on February 18. There are 47,803 new voters in 2018 poll. The Election Commission has set up 3,214 polling stations in Tripura; 47 of them are controlled by women polling personnel. A total of 292 candidates, including 23 women, will fight the closely-watched contest today. With almost 47,803 new voters and 11 third-gender voters, around 26 lakh people are eligible to vote today.

The results will be out on March 3, the same day when results of the Meghalaya and Nagaland assembly elections will also be announced.

In the previous 2013 state poll, 50 seats were won by the Left Front led by CPI(M).

With campaigning ending this evening, all eyes are now riveted on the voting on Sunday.

There are a total of 307 candidates whose fate would be sealed in EVMs on February 18. At Bishalgarh due to EVM machine’s technical problems the voting has not started since 7 PM, but it will start soon once the machine is fixed.