AGARTALA, July 28 (TIWN): Low voting percentage has depressed ruling party also in this Panchayat Election. Huge numbers of people didn’t cast vote even though the voting rate went 77% which has been termed as ‘ghost voting’. Numbers of voters were very less and muteness, silence gripped across raising question, are people fed up of poll violence and poll cheating ? This time indeed people have nothing to say against poll rigging and similar issues and maximum chose “not to cast vote”, which is another bad sign for democracy like West Bengal. When booth capturing pictures are visible in this election, people chose to remain unaffected and silent.

Unlike previous Panchayat Election or Lok Sabha Election, there was no trend of battling for the voting rights this time, rather in many booths absence of voters was seen, whereas BJP workers occupied booths in many areas. There was no sign of following mode codes and conducts and numbers of security personnel were very less. But what lacked this time, was as if public or the opposition voters this time have given up and chose to stay mute against any violation.

In Lok Sabha Election, like many states, a section of people felt to be “betrayed” by Election Commission amid many, many attempts taken by opposition parties to rescue democracy. There is a feeling of trustlessness over Election Commission, says survey.

Earlier, public created videos of rigging, made them viral but this time they chose to stay at home.

In 2018, September even though BJP won 96% seats uncontested still people / opposition voters struggled to cast vote, but this time there was no enthusiasm among public for 14% remaining seats, as if surrendered before ‘murderers of democracy’.

However, there was no report of violence so far and election is going on peacefully.

Tripura Panchayat Election voting has started from morning 8 am across booths of 14% Panchayat seats. This election is for namesake as BJP is all set to win 86% seats uncontested after opposition party candidates were threatened and forced to give up elections.

Tripura Election since one and half year has become trend of ‘forceful winning’ by ruling BJP and oppositions termed each election held under BJP Govt as ‘farce’.

Polls were held in only 14% of the total seats as 86% seats have already remained in favour of BJP as uncontested.

Opposition and BJP both accepted that voters’ percentages were less, whereas BJP spokesperson Ashok Sinha said, CPI-M managed 80%-90% voting via rigging in Left era.

Voters rows left empty and public boycotted election after losing trust on Election Commission in last elections.

Violence incidents’ reports came but maximum booths were captured by BJP without any opposition polling agents.  

Vote counting will be held on July 31st.