Agartala, Feb 25, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Key highlights: ECI appoints 60 observers for counting scheduled on March 2, all-party meeting held, counting day declared Dry Day, every counting table to have micro observer
Agartala, Feb 25: Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Kiran Gitte on Saturday said that peace meetings would be held in all polling stations on February 27 and 28 next.
Addressing a press conference, he said, the initiative aims at spreading the message of peace so that the people maintain peace in post-counting situation.
He appealed to all sections of people to take part in the peace meetings in their respective areas and adopt resolutions.
According to Gitte, the Election Commission of India appointed sixty counting observers and they would arrive in the state after Monday. The counting of votes would take place in 21 centres across Tripura and every counting table would have one micro observer, he added.
The CEO said, the assembly elections concluded peacefully except for some stray incidents. He said, there was no incident of post-poll violence over the last five days. He appealed to all to accept the people’s verdict whatever it may be and maintain the peace and harmony in the same spirit after the counting. He also said that March 2 has been declared a dry day.
Gitte said, he along with Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Additional Director General of Police reviewed the preparedness in all eight districts with the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police. He said, all necessary arrangements including security measures would be put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the counting process. He said, all the counting centres would be brought under three-tier security arrangements.
Meanwhile, the CEO held an all-party meeting on Saturday regarding the counting of votes scheduled on March 2 next and sought cooperation from them.
In the meeting, he said, one control room would be set up for every constituency. The political parties and their candidates can contact the control rooms for any query or complaint. The counting of votes would start at 8 am through counting of ballot papers. The votes would be counted in four to eight rounds.
The CEO asked all the political parties to submit the names of counting agents to the Returning Officers of respective constituencies by 5 pm of Monday. Five VVPATs would be counted in every constituency mandatorily, he said in the meeting. He also said that the counting agents have to follow the norms of ECI while entering the counting halls.
On the other hand, a preparatory meeting with the observers, micro observers and other officials of West Tripura district was held at Muktadhara auditorium on Saturday.