In an attempt to ensure free and fair by-polls four Assembly Constituencies in Tripura, an elaborate security arrangement would be put in place, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kiran Gitte said on Thursday.
“The District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police (SPs) are jointly working on the security matters. As per their assessment and reports, the security deployment including central forces will be planned”, the CEO told the reporters.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced that the by-polls to four Assembly seats of Tripura would be held on June 23 and the counting of votes would take place on June 26.
Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, he said, while CCTV coverage would be there in all polling booths, webcasting would also be arranged in around 50 percent booths.
He also said, an all-party meeting would be held at the civil secretariat to discuss various matters on Friday. The official said that the Model Code of Conduct had already come into force in the entire Dhalai District for Surma constituency and North Tripura for Jubarajnagar constituency and in West District for two constituencies – 6 Agartala and 8 Town Bordowali.
As per the final electoral roll- 2022, total 27,35,546 voters– male 12,81,693, female 13,53,818 and 35 third gender—are there in the state.
Among them, 1,88,854 electors—93,567 males and 95,283 females—will cast their votes in the ensuing by-polls to four assembly constituencies: 6-Agartala, 8- Town Bordwali, 46- Surma and 57- Jubarajnagar. There are total 666 service voters in the four constituencies.
The by-polls will take place in 221 polling stations—55 in Agartala, 56 in Town Bordwali, 60 in Surma and 50 in Jubarajnagar.
According to an official report, the total number of voters in Agartala is 51,639 followed by 46,583 in Town Bordwali, 47259 in Surma and 43373 in Jubarajnagar.
As per the notification, the Election Commission decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the bye-elections in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.
The CEO said, the gazette notification for the by-elections would be issued on May 30. The last date for filing nominations would be June 6 and scrutiny of nominations would take place on June 7. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures would be June 9 and the election process would be completed before June 28 next.
If necessary, re-polling would be held on January 24 or 25, the CEO added.