AGARTALA, Aug 25 (TIWN): Security is tightened across simna-Tamakari ADC area to ensure free and smooth counting of votes on Friday.

The by-poll to a seat under Tripura's lone tribal autonomous body was held on Tuesday with the ruling CPI-M  making all efforts to take on a tribal party backed by the BJP and Trinamool Congress.

In all, 22,481 voters -- over 90 per cent of them tribals – have cast their votes to elect their representative in western Tripura's Simna-Tamakari constituency under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autononmous District Council (TTAADC).

According to an official of the state election commission, women voters at 11,250 outnumbered the men (11,231) in the reserved seat.

Seven candidates have contested the by-election, which was necessitated following the death of Communist Party of India-Marxist member Ranabir Debbarma earlier this year.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress supported the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) candidate Mangal Debbarma though the BJP had earlier put up candidate for the seat.

The main contest is between CPI-M's Kumudh Debbarma and IPFT's Mangal  Debbarma.

The IPFT, demanding a separate state carving out of Tripura by upgrading the TTAADC, became a major tribal party over the years and organised several agitations in Tripura and New Delhi in support of their demand.

The ruling Left Front, which has substantial base among the tribals and non-tribals, is now governing the TTAADC, which was formed by amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in 1985 to boost socio-economic positions of the tribals, who constitute one third of Tripura's four million populations.

Counting of votes of the by-elections would be held on August 26.