With the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) drawing near, the State Election Commission has moved to fortify security and monitoring arrangements.
In a sweeping measure to guarantee peaceful and free polling, a total of 74 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed across Tripura.
On Wednesday, the Commission convened two high-level meetings to review preparations. The first, held in hybrid mode, brought together the Director General of Police, IG (Law & Order), District Magistrates, District Election Officers, and Superintendents of Police. Discussions focused on law and order, voter safety, campaign restrictions, and monitoring mechanisms.
Officials stressed that security forces and district administrations have been instructed to ensure equal opportunity for all political parties and candidates during campaigning, while maintaining normal law and order. CRPF personnel will remain deployed before, during, and after polling, with regular area domination exercises and flag marches already underway in sensitive zones.
The Commission has directed district authorities to instill confidence among voters, ensuring they can exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the timely movement of party representatives to polling stations on election day.
The Commission announced that restrictions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 will come into force from September 26 at 4 pm until September 28 at 6 am.
A mandatory 48-hour silence period will be strictly enforced, during which no campaigning or electioneering will be permitted. Content that could influence voters will be barred from television, radio, cable networks, social media, digital platforms, and print media within the polling areas.
Media outlets have been advised against airing debates, discussions, opinion polls, or any material that could sway public opinion during this period. Violations will invite punitive action under the relevant laws.
The Commission has also restricted the use of loudspeakers to between 6 am and 10 pm, citing concerns for children, senior citizens, and persons with special needs. District officials have been instructed to ensure basic infrastructure at every polling station, including drinking water, electricity, and essential furniture.
In a separate meeting, election observers appointed for the Village Committee polls were briefed on their responsibilities. They will oversee the conduct of elections in their respective areas, ensuring transparency, adherence to rules, and impartiality. Observers will submit detailed reports to the Commission after polling.