Agartala, Jun 22, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, June 22: Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte on Wednesday said all necessary arrangements including security measures have been put in place to ensure a free and fair election.

While highlighting the security measures taken for the by-elections at a press conference, the CEO appealed to the voters to exercise their democratic rights without any fear.

Meanwhile, of the total 221 polling stations, 148 have been categorised ‘normal’ as per security assessment, 10 identified as critical and vulnerable, 59 identified as vulnerable and four identified as critical, an official report said.

CAPF personnel would be deployed to guard the polling stations; total 25 companies of forces would be used in this by-election, the CEO told the press conference held at the conference of West Tripura District Magistrate’s office.

He said, the CEO’s office launched a voter helpline, including a landline number and a WhatsApp number, to provide assistance to voters.

Apart from that helpline numbers will also be there and C-Vigil app will be available for the electors and common people to lodge compliant or inform the Election Commission any incident that will be required to be brought to the notice of the EC. The informant in the C-Vigil will remain incognito.

The Election Commission has deployed four General Observers- Partha Sarathi Misra (8837258358) for 6-Agartala constituency, Gautam Majumder (8415817304) for 8-Town Bardowali, Ashwini Kumar Misra (9402166078) for 46- Surma and Vijay Kumar (600924428) for be there in 57-Jubarajnagar.

“One additional polling staff will be deployed in all polling stations to ensure smooth conduct of webcasting, videography, identification of voters in queue and transparency measures,” the CEO said.

Webcasting will be done in all polling booths. Besides, Micro Observers from central government employees will also be deployed in all polling stations.

He said, around 15 complaints were received from various political parties over the last ten days and all such complaints were addressed immediately.

"We don't want to compare this election with any other election but we are confident of conducting a free and fair election. Sufficient force will be deployed," he commented while briefing the media on the preparations.

An official said, tender vote facility would be available in the by-election, according to an official.