Dharmanagar By-poll begins with steady voter turnout; Six candidates in fray

Polling for the by-election in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency of North Tripura began on Thursday morning at 7 a.m. under strict security arrangements. By 3 p.m, voter turnout had reached 70.09 percent, with steady queues forming at many of the 55 polling stations. Voting will continue until 5 p.m.

A total of 46,142 voters, including 23,758 women, are eligible to decide the outcome among six candidates contesting the seat. At Chandrapur Higher Secondary School, BJP candidate Jahar Chakraborty cast his vote, accompanied by his wife Barnali Goswami.

Election officials have introduced inclusive measures, with 11 polling stations run entirely by women staff, and two each managed by differently-abled personnel and youth teams.

The constituency, which borders Assam and Mizoram, has historically alternated between the BJP and Congress since 2008, with CPI(M) last winning in 2003. This by-election has drawn a multi-cornered contest, featuring candidates from the BJP, Congress, CPI(M)-led Left Front, Amra Bangali, SUCI, and an Independent contender.

The by-election was necessitated by the passing of sitting MLA and Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen in December 2025. Sen had represented Dharmanagar four times, twice for Congress and later for BJP.

Campaigning concluded on Tuesday, and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.