In Tripura's Village Committee election, around 79 per cent polling has been recorded by 4 pm, according to the State Election Commission.

Speaking to media, State Election Commissioner P.K. Chakraborty said, since voters were still standing in queues at several polling stations after 4 pm, slips were issued to ensure that they could exercise their franchise. 

Nearly 8,000 voters who were still waiting in queues at polling stations at the scheduled closing time of 4 pm were issued slips and allowed to cast their votes in the Tripura Village Committee elections, Chakraborty said.

He said the final voter turnout would be known only after polling was completed. A total of 8,176 candidates were in the fray in the elections.

On the overall law-and-order situation, the State Election Commissioner said polling was conducted peacefully and fairly across the state, with no major untoward incident reported.

However, an incident was reported outside a police station near Ohainbari SB School under Matabari Block in Gomati district. One person sustained serious injuries, while another person accompanying him suffered minor injuries. 

Both were shifted to Gomati District Hospital in the presence of the District Election Officer and the Superintendent of Police.

Chakraborty also said that five complaints had been received so far in connection with the elections. The complaints relate to areas including Srimangalpur Village Committee, Panbua Village Committee, Teliamura, Kalyanpur and Paharpur.

He said the complaints were politically related and reports had been sought from the respective District Election Officers and Returning Officers. Further decisions would be taken after the reports are received.

Meanwhile, ballot boxes and other election materials have started arriving at receiving centres from different polling stations. The overall election picture will become clear after representatives of the respective parties submit ballot boxes, ballot paper accounts and other statutory and non-statutory forms, the State Election Commissioner said.

The ballot boxes will subsequently be secured in strongrooms.