Agartala, Jan 06, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Jan 06: A team of the Election Commission of India would arrive in Tripura to review the preparedness for the ensuing assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Kiran Gitte said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, Gitte said, the three-member ECI team would arrive in the state for two days.

He said, fifty companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) already arrived in the state on December 28 last and another 50 companies are already on the way and they would arrive in the next few days.

“All necessary arrangements are being put in place to ensure zero violence in the election process,” he said while seeking cooperation from all political parties and citizens.

He said, in 2018 assembly polls, around 370 poll violence related complaints were lodged; the number was higher in terms of any small state like Tripura. The CEO assured that no stone would be left unturned to ensure violence-free election this time.

As part of awareness generation measures for a free, fair and peaceful election, he said, Rangoli competition would be initiated at every household on April 14, to mark Pous Sankranti. Awards would be given in every assembly constituency.

Replying to a query on the possible date of announcement of the election, the CEO said that the election was declared in 2018 on January 18. The announcement may come this time also in mid-January.

As per the final electoral rolls published on Thursday, there are 28,13,478 voters—14,14,576 males, 13,98,825 females and 77 third genders. The number of service voters is 10,344. There are 38,039 voters in 80+ age groups and 679 voters in above 100+ age groups.

The CEO said, enrollment of 65,044 voters has been done in the final electoral roll- 2023 in the age group of 18-19 in which 34,704 are male, 30,328 are female and 12 are in the third gender category. Besides, 13,500 Bru voters were also enrolled during the special summary revision. He said, updation of the electoral roll is a continuous process.

“The gender ration has also increased substantially as more focus was given on enrollment of women. In the draft roll- 2023, the gender ratio was 981 females per 1000 males. Now, the figure has increased to 989,” the CEO told reporters.

He said, there are total 3,328 polling stations in Tripura and the average voter per polling station is 845.