The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started the commissioning of EVMs  for West Tripura Parliamentary constituency  and for 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency  at strong rooms of Umakanta Academy in presence of Central Observers and representatives of all political parties.

Giving details of process, the Returning Officer (RO) of  West Tripura PC, Dr Vishal Kumar said that  amidst tight security the commissioning of all EVMs for West Tripura seat and 7-Ramnagar AC has been started at UK Academy and by Sunday all the commissioning for EVM for 793 polling stations for West to be completed.

He said that in the Ballot Unit, the names of all contesting candidates will be pasted and in the Control Unit, the names of candidates to be set up. In VVPAT, the symbols of contesting candidates to be uploaded, said Dr Kumar and added that all the EVMs will be ready for functioning of polling stations on voting day.

He said that voting for the West Tripura PC and by-poll for 7-Ramnagar assembly constituency would be conducted simultaneously and for by-polls, the pink paper has been used in Ballot Unit and white paper has been used in ballot unit for parliamentary elections.

He said that a total of 1000 new EVMs have been kept ready for parliamentary elections and 25% EVMs  will be kept as reserved.

Though, state have 100% coverage of Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), the ECI will allow the voters to cast their votes with 12 alternative photo identity documents at the time of casting their votes including Aadhar card, MGNREGA card, bank pass book with photo, diving licence, Pan card, passport , service identity cards of government departments etc.

However, all the general observers, police observers along with expenditure observers are already camping in the state.

He said that more than 70 companies of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) have already arrived in the state and deployed across the state for poll duties.