Tripura State Election Commission deploys 33 observers to monitor urban local body elections, while Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty rejects allegations of nomination obstruction. Meanwhile, three Tripura Police Service officers receive IPS promotions under the 2025 Select List.
The Tripura State Election Commission has deployed 33 election observers across the state to monitor the ongoing urban local body election process, ensuring transparency, neutrality and proper supervision at every stage, from scrutiny of nomination papers to the counting of votes. State Election Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty has also rejected opposition allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers in certain areas, including Mohanpur.
According to the Election Commission, the 33 observers have been assigned to different jurisdictions across Tripura to independently assess developments on the ground and submit reports directly to the Commission throughout the election period.
State Election Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty said the observers were briefed during a meeting held at the State Guest House before being dispatched to their respective areas. During the briefing, officials were informed about their responsibilities, reporting procedures and the role they must perform during different phases of the electoral process.
The observers will remain present during the scrutiny of nomination papers and subsequently monitor the withdrawal of candidature, polling arrangements and counting procedures. They have also been instructed to interact with Returning Officers, visit polling stations and submit reports to the Commission at important stages of the election.
Explaining their responsibilities, Chakraborty described election observers as the eyes and ears of the Commission in the field. Their primary responsibility is to independently observe electoral proceedings, identify violations of election-related rules, document incidents of violence or irregularities and provide objective feedback to the Commission.
However, the observers have not been empowered to issue directions to Returning Officers. They are expected to maintain complete neutrality and function strictly within the responsibilities assigned to them.
The observers will continue their duties until the completion of vote counting. Their reports may also be considered by the Commission while examining circumstances that could require re-polling in any particular area.
SEC Rejects Allegations of Nomination Obstruction
During his interaction with reporters, Chakraborty also responded to allegations raised by opposition parties regarding obstruction of candidates during the nomination process.
Opposition representatives had alleged that certain candidates were prevented from submitting their nomination papers in places such as Mohanpur and other locations. The allegations had prompted complaints, both verbally and in writing, along with demonstrations by opposition representatives before the State Election Commission.
Rejecting the allegations, the Election Commissioner said information received from electoral authorities did not support the claims of obstruction.
He stated that he had remained in regular communication with Returning Officers and District Municipal Election Officers over the preceding several days. According to him, none of the officials had reported any incident in which candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers.
Chakraborty further said elaborate security arrangements had been established around the offices of Returning Officers and along routes leading to nomination centres. These arrangements were intended to ensure that candidates belonging to all political parties could reach the designated offices and submit their nomination papers without difficulty.
He added that reports received from the concerned electoral authorities indicated that the nomination process had proceeded smoothly.
The Commissioner also said law enforcement agencies had informed the Commission that no formal complaint had been lodged alleging that any candidate was assaulted or prevented from reaching a nomination centre.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections, Chakraborty maintained that all political parties had been provided equal opportunities to participate in the electoral process. He said adequate arrangements had been made to protect transparency, security and accessibility during the nomination process.
SEC Defends Use of EVMs in Municipal Elections
The State Election Commissioner also addressed concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the urban local body elections.
Chakraborty asserted that the use of EVMs was fully consistent with the existing legal provisions and electoral rules. He pointed out that the current municipal elections marked the third occasion on which EVMs were being used for such elections in Tripura.
He maintained that the Commission had followed the prescribed legal framework and that there had been no deviation from the established procedures.
With scrutiny of nomination papers beginning and preparations for subsequent electoral stages progressing, the deployment of 33 observers is expected to strengthen the Commission’s monitoring mechanism across municipal jurisdictions.
The Commission has emphasised that continuous field-level supervision, regular reporting and coordination with election officials will remain essential to ensuring an orderly electoral process.
Three TPS Officers Promoted to IPS, Allocated Tripura Cadre
In a separate development concerning the state’s police administration, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), through a notification issued on November 6, appointed three Tripura Police Service (TPS) officers to the Indian Police Service (IPS) on probation and allocated them to the Tripura cadre.
The officers are Kishore Debbarma, Rajib Nag and Rajib Sengupta. Their appointments have been made against the Select List of 2025, filling all three vacancies under the promotion quota allocated to the Tripura cadre.
According to the notification, the appointments were made by the President under the provisions of the Indian Police Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955.
The three officers will undergo a probation period of one year and will also be required to complete mandatory induction training as prescribed under the applicable service regulations.
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However, their appointments are subject to the final outcome of Special Leave Petitions (Civil) Nos. 19765–19767 of 2015, pending before the Supreme Court of India in the matter of State of Tripura and Others versus Jayanta Chakraborty and Others.
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The promotion of the three TPS officers to the IPS marks an important development in the state’s police administration, while their appointments remain subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court in the related proceedings.
Together, the election monitoring arrangements and the latest police service promotions mark two significant administrative developments in Tripura, involving electoral supervision and the state’s policing establishment.
