Amidst tight and three-tier security across 21 locations of the state, where counting of polled votes will start from 8 AM of the morning  on March 2nd simultaneously for all 60-seats, all preparations have been completed to decide the fate of 259 candidates.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kiran Gitte and eight other District Returning Officers (DROs) along with 60 central counting observers have already visited all counting centres located in 21 subdivisions of the state and reviewed the massive preparation of counting.

Gitte said that two counting centers located at Umakanta Academy in Agartala have been set up, where counting of polled votes for 14-assembly segments under West Tripura district will be held in 14 counting tables simultaneously on March 2nd.

All the district magistrates  have also imposed  prohibitory orders under 144 Cr Pc have been imposed in and around all the locations of the counting centers as a precautionary measure.

The assembly elections for Tripura were held on February 16 in Tripura, where 89.95 per cent of the 28.14 lakh voters exercised their franchise.

"Polled EVMs are kept in strong rooms in 21 locations at 21 subdivisions of the state except Jirania and Mohanpur subdivisions, where counting of votes of the constituencies fallen under these two subdivisions will be held at counting centers located at Umakanta Academy in Agartala,”said CEO.

The EVMs will be taken up for counting in presence of the Election Commission-appointed observers, the CEO said and added that counting of votes will start from 8 AM on Thursday. He added that from morning 8 AM to 8.30 AM counting process will begin with counting of postal ballots and Election department has so far received 65,593 postal ballots and remaining postal ballots would be accepted till Thursday morning 8 AM, which are on way to arrival by postal delivery.

After postal ballot counting, the counting of EVMs will start from 8.30 AM and in Umakanta Academy, the ECI has set 14 counting tables for counting of 14 assembly seats simultaneously.

Gitte has assured all political parties, their leaders, agents and common people of an equally smooth and fair counting process on March 2 like February 16 assembly elections and added that all efforts to ensure a free and fair counting process has been taken by the ECI and there are no chances of any disturbing activities.

While, security has been beefed up in the state ahead of the announcement of the results and Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) along with state police forces have conducted flag marches as well as area domination patrolling in all 21 locations of the state.

Meanwhile, district administration officials have convened hundreds of peace meetings in all the 60 assembly constituencies in Tripura to prevent any kind of violence incident after the announcement of results.

Chief Secretary JK Sinha, DGP Amitabh Ranjan and CEO Kiran Gitte have also visited all the eight districts of the state and had also issued necessary directions as per guidelines framed by the ECI to maintain law and order and smooth, free and fair counting of votes.

The ECI has given its maximum efforts  on maintaining peace and harmony after the declaration of results and all district and subdivisional officials have also conducted all-party peace meetings.

Police sources said that the authorities have further tightened the security along the 856-km long India-Bangladesh border with Tripura and inter-state borders with Assam and Mizoram. Other security measures taken include, mobile patrolling during evening and night hours, checking of vehicles, hotels and CCTV monitoring.