TNI Bureau: Tripura on Thursday set a new record for the country’s highest-ever voter turnout with 94 percent polling in the Assembly elections, which was peaceful, except for a few minor incidents.

The state had earlier a record polling of 91.22 percent in the last assembly polls in 2008, which was so far the highest in the country.

Amid the tight security, the polling started at 7 AM and continued till well beyond the 4 PM time for polling as people in large numbers were seen standing in long queues outside several polling stations. The last vote was cast till past 8 PM. The state has a total electorate of 23,58,493 voters, including 54,000 new voters.

As many as 249 candidates from 16 political parties are in fray for the 60-member Assembly election. However, the main contest is between the ruling Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and an alliance of the Congress and the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura. The Left Front is hoping to return for a record fifth straight time.

According to Election Commission report, the highest voting of 99 percent was recorded in a polling booth at Chanman JB School under Radha Kishorpur assembly constituency in Gomati district, where 600 of the 605 voters cast their votes.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar cast his vote at a booth in Umakanta School in Ramnagar constituency represented by him.

The counting of votes will be taken up on the 28th of this month.