North Tripura District Magistrate chaired a preparatory meeting in Dharmanagar ahead of the by-election, discussing EVM and VVPAT checking, election guidelines, transparency measures, and coordination with political parties to ensure free and fair polling.
North Tripura District Magistrate and District Election Officer Chandni Chandran chaired a preparatory meeting with representatives of various political parties in Dharmanagar on Friday. The meeting was aimed at ensuring smooth, transparent, and fair conduct of the by-election in the 56-Dharmanagar Assembly Constituency.
The meeting was held at the District Magistrate’s conference hall and witnessed participation from senior district officials and representatives of major political parties. Among the officials present were Additional District Magistrate Bijoy Sinha, Dharmanagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Debjani Choudhury, Additional Superintendent of Police Kamal Debbarma, and Deputy Collector Soma Saha. Representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, and other registered political parties also attended the session.
During the meeting, District Magistrate Chandni Chandran outlined the administrative roadmap for the by-election and emphasized the importance of coordination between the election machinery and political stakeholders. She reiterated that maintaining neutrality, transparency, and strict adherence to election guidelines would remain the top priority of the district administration.
A major highlight of the meeting was the announcement regarding the first-level checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units. The District Magistrate informed that the checking process would be conducted on January 16 and 17. A district-level committee has already been constituted to supervise the process in line with the Election Commission of India’s protocols.
Officials made it clear that representatives of all recognized political parties must remain present during the EVM and VVPAT checking process. This, they stressed, is essential to ensure transparency and to reinforce confidence in the electoral system. Any concerns or objections raised during the checking process will be addressed as per established rules.
The District Magistrate also briefed the political representatives on the Model Code of Conduct, security arrangements, polling station management, and the role of polling agents. She urged all parties to cooperate with election officials and refrain from activities that could disrupt the democratic process.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kamal Debbarma assured that adequate security arrangements would be in place throughout the election period to maintain law and order. He also emphasized strict action against any attempt to influence voters or violate election norms.
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Political party representatives welcomed the proactive approach of the district administration and raised queries related to polling logistics, voter awareness, and grievance redressal mechanisms. Officials responded to these queries and assured that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful by-election.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from both the administration and political parties to uphold democratic values and ensure that the Dharmanagar by-election is conducted in a transparent, orderly, and credible manner.
