Over 15,000 security personnel to be deployed for September 28 Village Committee elections in Tripura’s tribal areas
A senior police official said that around 74 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) along with 10,000 personnel of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and Tripura Police deployed for the Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas.
The official said, “Of the 74 companies of CAPF, 47 companies have already arrived in Tripura, and the remaining forces would be available in the state by Wednesday. Area-wise patrolling and route marches to maintain peaceful law and order in the run-up to the Village Committee elections has started.”
The Tripura State Election Commission (TSEC) earlier announced that elections to 4,597 seats in 2,634 constituencies covering 587 Village Committees — equivalent to Gram Panchayats in the non-TTAADC areas — would be held on September 28 after a gap of 10 years.
State Election Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty reviewed the overall security.
An official of the Tripura State Election Commission said that the ruling BJP’s ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), won 1,557 seats, or 33.87 per cent of the total 4,597 seats, unopposed in the elections to 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC areas.
The BJP secured 81 seats, or 1.76 per cent, uncontested following the completion of the withdrawal of nomination papers on September 11, the official said.According to the SEC official, following the election of candidates in many seats without contest, polling would now be held in 2,954 seats.
After 1,069 candidates of various political parties, including the TMP, BJP and CPI (M), withdrew their nominations, a total of 9,820 candidates are now in the fray for the Village Committee elections.
