In order to ensure peaceful and violence free voting, the election machineries in Tripura  will take all steps for free and fair elections and a large number of central security forces have already deployed across the state.

Giving details of the election for two Lok Sabha seats in Tripura and by-poll for 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Tripura, Puneet Agarwal said that as per poll schedules of Election Commission of India (ECI), the voting for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency will be held in the first phase on April 19 and polling for the East Tripura (ST reserved) parliamentary constituency will be conducted in the second phase on April 26 next.

The Poll notification for West Tripura parliamentary constituency and by-poll for 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency will issue on March 20th and with announcement of poll schedules, the model code of conduct (MCC) started.

The last day for making nominations for West Tripura PC and 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency is March 27, scrutiny of submitted nomination papers to be conducted on March 28, last date of withdrawal march 30. Similarly, the notification for East Tripura parliamentary constituency (ST Reserved) will be issued on March 28, last day of making nomination 4th April, scrutiny on April 5th, last date for withdrawal of candidature April 8th and date of polling on April 26th, in the second phase of LS polls.

While, a total of 14,62,875 voters including 7,33,842 male voters, 7,28,977 female voters and 58 third gender as on March 14th, 2024l will cast their vote from West Tripura seat and a total of 13,95,121 votes including 7,01,649 male, 6,93,458 female and 14 third gender voters from East Tripura seat as on March 14, 2024 will cast their vote on April 26, said Agarwal.

He said that 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency has a total voters of 45,669 including 22,040 male and 23, 629 female voters and they will cast their votes on April 19 in 49 polling stations.

Agarwal added that both the parliamentary constituencies have a total of 10,266 service voters and voting through postal ballots for poll and security personnel and persons will be engaged for election duties including drivers, the poll panel will set different felicitation centres for postal ballot voting.  This year, the Commission will also issue Election Duty Certificate (EDC) to poll personnel and they can cast their votes at any polling station other than where he or she is enrolled as a voter.

In the general elections for 2024, the Commission will set up a total of women managed polling stations-154, person with disability (PwD) 60,  youth managed polling stations 60 and 121 model polling stations out of total 3349 polling stations across both parliamentary constituencies, Agarwal.

Agarwal added web-casting will be conducted in all polling stations and the outer layer of polling booths will be covered with CCTVs and first level checking of EVMs have been completed and soon, the Commission will start the randomization of all EVMs. Election expenditure limit for candidates in respect of PC is Rs. 95 lakh and national and state political parties have to limit their star campaigners to 40, said Agarwal and urged all the political parties to take measures to prevent public nuisance during their campaigning.

Agarwal requested all voters of the state to cast their vote without any fear and if they face any kind of obstacle during voting, they complain to the poll panel to protect their voting rights.

Speaking in the press meet state police nodal officer and ADG, G S Rao said that so far a total of 70 companies of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) have already deployed across the state in advance and forces started flag march and area domination exercise to boost up confidence among local people and to maintain law and order situation before general elections.  (OVER)

 Most of the central forces (a company comprises around 100 personnel) have arrived in Tripura, and are performing election-related duties – patrolling, area-dominance and flag marches – to build confidence among the voters, the officer said.

Around 14 companies of the CRPF and BSF will be engaged in Tripura West, and 11 companies will be deployed in the “sensitive Dhalai district”, he said. Besides, around 6,000 police personnel will be engaged for election duties.