This is it!

BJP challenges Congress to debate on election manifestoes

AGARTALA, FEB 16 (PTI): Tripura recorded over 81 per cent polling till 4 pm in the one-day election to the 60-member Tripura Assembly on Thursday, a senior EC official said.

The voting percentage will increase as around 50,000 voters are still standing in queues at the polling stations to exercise their franchise, the official said.

“Till 4 pm, an average 81.11 per cent polling was recorded in all the 60 Assembly constituencies, while around 50,000 voters are still in queues when the report came in last,” additional chief electoral officer U J Mog told PTI. Voters who are in the queues and took tokens by 4 pm will be allowed to cast their votes even after 6 pm or beyond, he added.

Bru refugees who resettled in the state recently took part in the polling for the first time. Of the total 37,136 Bru population in the state 14,005 are eligible to vote. Voting began at 7 am in all the 3337 polling stations and gained pace as the day progressed.

The election was marred by a few untoward incidents. Police said three CPI(M) activists were injured in two incidents. (Read more on p-4)

Staff Re porter

DIMAPUR, FEB 16

(NPN): After Congress took a dig at the recently released BJP manifesto, the party’s State media cell convener Sapralu Nyekha responded by throwing a challenge on the Congress for a debate on the manifestoes. Addressing the media here at BJP office Thursday, Sapralu claimed Nagaland has witnessed massive development within a short span of time only under BJP rule (with regional party) and that the previous Congress regimes did not bring any development to the State.

“When Congress points its fingers at us and terms our manifesto and vision documents as devoid of any truth, I challenge the party to bring its manifesto for a debate with BJP,” she stated.

Highlighting the focus on welfare of women in BJP’s manifesto, she reiterated that the party would initiate Temsula Ao Empowerment Mission to encourage formation of more women SHGs and provide them with credit linkages, set up online portals and outlets across the State to provide linkages to women SHGs, FPOs and entrepre- neurs, initiate women-run canteens at all district headquarters and important marketplaces to provide meals at subsidised rates, one-time grant of Rs. 50,000 to all women getting recruited under Agnipath Yojana and increase widow, single mother and old age women pension amount to Rs.1,000 per month, etc.

On safety of women, Sapralu assured that BJP would establish ‘Women Warrior Battalion’, State’s first all-women police battalion, and also a dedicated desk operated by women officials at every police station to tackle crimes against women.

For healthcare, she informed the media that the party would spend Rs 200 crore to establish dedicated department for mother and child care in all District

Hospitals, ensure 100% institutional deliveries for expecting mothers by ensuring maternity wards in all PHCs and CHCs and District Hospitals, provide free sanitary napkins through vending machines installed in public places, government schools and colleges, and modernise all Anganwadis. She said BJP would spend Rs 32 crore to construct Pink Toilets at all public places for ensuring women’s hygiene and convenience. Meanwhile, speaking on youth empowerment, BJYM State president Hosheto Awomi stated that BJP would establish Nagaland Entrepreneurship Development Authority for training and promoting entrepreneurship in every district, expand scope of Nagaland employment portal, provide vent use of such vehicles to transport cash, liquor, illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband items under the guise of police vehicles. Additional DG (law & order), Sandeep M Tamgadge, who headed a part of the drive in State Capital, disclosed that the State-wide surprise frisking exercise took place in all districts simultaneously from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. He said the drive was conducted after there were complaints of police vehicles being used for illegal activities.