Agartala, Sep 27 :
Polling officials and security personnel began moving towards polling stations across Tripura on Sunday with ballot boxes, ballot papers and other election materials, a day ahead of polling for the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The movement of polling teams and security personnel was visible in several areas, including Mandai, where groups were also seen travelling towards polling locations ahead of Monday’s polling.
Authorities said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure peaceful polling across the ADC areas.
Senior police official Sudhir Kumar said adequate security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces, BSF and CRPF personnel, along with Tripura State Rifles and state police, had been deployed for the election.
“We have sufficient security forces. We have companies of CAPF, BSF and CRPF, besides state rifles and police personnel in large numbers,” Kumar said.
He said security forces had been conducting flag marches and route marches across the areas for the past 15-20 days to create a peaceful atmosphere ahead of polling.
“The situation is completely normal and peaceful so far. We will continue foot patrols, route marches and flag marches tomorrow as well,” he said, appealing to voters to turn out in large numbers.
Kumar also cautioned against any attempt to disturb the peace and said strict action would be taken against those violating the law.
Polling teams in Mandai said they had collected the required election materials and were proceeding to their assigned polling stations with ballot boxes and ballot papers under security arrangements.
Mandai Block Returning Officer Nantu De said arrangements had been made for transportation of polling personnel and election materials, with support from the district administration and police authorities.
Presiding Officer Partha Acharya, who was moving with his team to the assigned polling station, expressed confidence that polling would be conducted peacefully.
He said polling would begin at 7 am on Monday and continue until 4 pm, with the polling team completing the necessary preparations at the stations on Sunday.
The TTAADC Village Committee elections are being held for 587 Village Committees covering 4,597 seats in 2,634 constituencies. The polling is scheduled for September 28, followed by counting on October 5.
The elections assume significance as the Village Committees constitute an important tier of local governance in the areas under the TTAADC. The electoral contest has also seen participation by major political parties and groups in the state.
With polling teams reaching their respective stations and security deployment in place, authorities said preparations were complete for Monday’s voting.
