After several clashes and legal battles between the political rivals for the last few days, Tripura is going to Urban Local Bodies polls on Thursday as massive security blankets were thrown across the state. Polling will start from 7 am.
On Thursday there will be elections to the 51-seat AMC and other civic bodies.
Latest reports said, all poll and security personnel have already reached their respective polling stations.
The ruling BJP has already won 112 (34 per cent) of the 334 seats uncontested in the AMC and 19 other urban local bodies — Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats — ahead of Thursday’s elections.
State Election Commission (SEC) officilas said that the BJP has already secured a majority in the seven civic bodies in Jirania, Ranir Bazar, Mohanpur, Bishalgarh, Santir Bazar, Udaipur and Kamalpur. Election will be held in total six Nagar Panchayets, seven Municipal council and Agartala Municipal Corporation, in 644 polling stations covering 20 Police Stations area. Counting of votes will take place on November 28.
As many as 785 candidates of various political parties, including the BJP, the CPI-M-led Left, the Trinamool, and the Congress, are vying for 222 seats in the AMC and other civic bodies.
Police officials said, among 644 polling stations 370 polling stations are identified as “A” category and 274 polling stations are identified as “B” category.
Four TSR personnel will be deployed in “A” category polling stations and four armed police personnel will be deployed in “B” category polling stations. Five TSR personnel will be deployed for all the ‘A’ category polling booths in Agartala Municipal Corporation area in place of four detailed earlier.
Two sections of CRPF under the command of one Gazetted officer has been deployed at strong room and Govt Press. Fixed guard has been deployed in all the offices of Returning Officers. Personal Security Officers have been provided with all the Returning Officers. Escort and Personal Security have been provided with all the observers. Ninety seven police sector officers have been detailed with 97 civil sector officers to oversee the security of the areas entrusted to them to ensure free and fair peaceful election. Twenty five TSR personnel have been provided with all the police stations where elections are being held for area domination. Further 30 TSR personnel are provided as District reserve for maintenance of Law and Order. Additional 61 light vehicles have been provided with all the police stations for vehicular mobile in connection with peaceful election. In addition, 50 sections of CRPF have been mobilized for law & order and area domination exclusively. After the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, additional 15 sections of CRPF are also being provided for the Agartala Municipal Elections and outside.
So far action against 88 trouble mongers have been taken. 244 numbers of vulnerable hamlets have been identified in the state and round the clock fixed picket/vehicular mobile/foot patrolling as per ground requirement are being maintained.
Special drive had been launched for execution of pending warrants and total 161 pending warrants have been executed and 433 preventive arrests have been made so far after declaration of Municipal Elections. Specific cases under appropriate section of law have been registered in all the reported incidents of political violence.
So far 57 political cases have been registered after declaration of Municipal Election.
As preventive action 63 persons have been bound down under preventive sections of law after declaration of Municipal Elections. QRT Team has also been formed in the districts to meet any emergent situation.
Total 123 Naka Points in the districts have been made functional round the clock for surveillance. Proper security coverage is being ensured to all the political programs which are being done with the permission of the police and no incidents has taken in any political programme organized after taking permission from police.
DGP V S Yadav, the press statement said, called upon all the eligible voters to exercise their franchise fearlessly and freely. Tripura police has made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair elections.