Around 53% of voters had cast their ballots by 1 p.m. in the by-election for the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district. The polling, which began at 7 a.m., is ongoing under tight security measures at 55 polling stations. No untoward incidents have been reported so far.
Voters turned out in large numbers before polling commenced, forming queues at most polling stations. A total of 46,142 voters, including 23,758 women, are eligible to vote in this election. The voting will continue until 5 p.m. in this mixed-population constituency.
The electoral fate of six candidates will be decided by the voters. Election authorities, in coordination with state police, have ensured elaborate measures to maintain a free, fair, and transparent polling process. Out of the 55 polling stations, 11 are managed by women personnel, with two stations each operated by differently-abled staff and youth polling teams.
The Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has been a stronghold of either the Congress party or the BJP since 2008. The CPI(M) last won the seat in 2003. The electoral battle is highly competitive due to a multi-cornered contest. Key candidates include Jahar Chakraborti of the BJP, Chayan Bhattacharjee of Congress, and Amitabha Datta representing the CPI(M)-led Left Front.
A former MLA, Amitabha Datta had previously won the seat in the 2003 Assembly elections. Jahar Chakraborti, the BJP’s North Tripura district Vice-President, is also contesting. Candidates from other political parties and an Independent candidate are further intensifying the competition.
The Left Front and Congress, who had a seat-sharing arrangement during the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections, are contesting separately in this by-election. Congress leader Chayan Bhattacharjee, supported by the Left parties, had narrowly lost to the BJP candidate in the previous election. The by-election was called following the passing of sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen on December 26, 2025.
