The Election department launched ‘Mission Zero Poll Violence’ and ‘Mission 929’ on Saturday not only ensure violence free upcoming assembly elections but also to ensure increase in the poll percentage, said a press release.
In fact it was the next assembly polls keeping in mind the two Missions were launched at Prjna Bhawan with the initiative of the Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte. In the programme Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan, Additional Director General of Police- Saurabh Tripathi, IG CRPF, Tripura Sector- Ravideep Singh Sahi, Secretary of Home department- Saradindhu Chowdhury, all District Election Officers, Superintendents of Police, Returning Officers, Asst. Returning Officers of West Tripura, Sepahijala and Khowai Districts and Sector Officers of West Tripura District were present.
According to officials the Mission 929 seeks to increase the poll percentage in ensuing Tripura Assembly Election. The name was taken from the fact that voters’ turnout analysis of Assembly Election 2018 revealed that there were 929 Polling Stations in the state– out of total 3214 Polling Stations –where the poll percentage was below 88.
The District wise breakup of such Polling stations is – West Tripura District -204, Sepahijala District-119, Khowai District- 65, Gomati District-79, South Tripura District- 38, Dhalai District- 141, Unakoti District-105 and North Tripura District- 178.
According to an official press release, special focus will be given on these 929 Polling Stations to reach poll percentage above 92 per cent by adopting steps like intensive SVEEP campaigns, focus on Urban Youth to participate in large numbers, special awareness programs on EVMs & VVPATs, visit of the house of 80+ and PwD voters by the Officials of Election Department, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, all requisite arrangements like ramp, wheelchair, separate queues etc. will be arranged at every polling station to facilitate the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability, special security measures like frequent visit by Civil & Police Sector Officers, AROs, ROs, SPs and DEOs, area domination by CAPF for confidence building of the voters etc. in these selected polling stations.
Even though the Assembly Elections in Tripura are held in festive mood, it is often marred by occasional poll violence. During Assembly Elections in 2018 and elections to the Autonomous District Council in 2021, there were incidents of poll related violence and police cases were registered. Strict action has been taken by the Police Department to create deterrence for repetition of any kind of poll violence., the press release said.
The Election Department, Tripura has planned to raise mass awareness among the political parties, workers and voters to focus on the political aspect of the Elections and to shun the violence. It is proposed to work in mission mode to conduct coming Assembly Elections of the State with an aim of “ZERO POLL VIOLENCE”. Every stakeholder shall endeavor to come out with all-out efforts to make the mission a reality. For this purpose, several administrative and awareness steps have been proposed to be taken over the next two months.
