E-Paper
Tripura boosts security measures to ensure smooth polling in third phase
East Tripura is one of the two Lok Sabha seats in Tripura and was originally scheduled to go to polls on April 18 in the second phase.
Security has been increased to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling in East Tripura constituency on April 23, as part of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. Polling in the seat, which was to go for polls on April 18, was deferred to April 23 on security grounds.
Elections to the West Tripura seat were held in the first phase on April 11 but Opposition parties had demand fresh polls amid allegations of booth capturing and violence.
East Tripura seat has been in the news for in the past week. First with EC deferring polling and followed by an attack on Congress candidate Pragya Deb Burman’s convoy and slapping of one of the accused attackers inside a police station by Pragya’s brother and Tripura Congress chief Pradyot Kishore Burman, scion of the Tripura royal family.
A keen contest is on the cards with sitting CPM MP Jitendra Chaudhury up against Congress’ Pragya Deb Burman, BJP’s Rebati Tripura and NC Debbarma of IPFT, a coalition partner of ruling the BJP. Six other candidates are also in the fray. The IPFT and BJP fielded their own candidates after failing to reach a seat sharing arrangement.
A separate state for Tripura’s indigenous community, unemployment, Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and extension of National Register of Citizens to Tripura are some of the key issues in these elections.
A total of 106 companies of central armed police force and more than 4,000 Tripura State Rifles (TSR) have been deployed to ensure smooth polling in this border state. Over 2600 civil policemen and officers are also on poll duty.
Nearly 88% polling booths have been provided security cover. Ninety surveillance teams and flying squads will also be on duty on Tuesday.
“Security arrangements have been made in a way to ensure a peaceful voting. Law and order is under control. So, I urge to the voters to cast their votes without fear,” director general of police AK Shukla told reporters at the police headquarters on Monday.
A total of 12,61,861 voters including 6,20,342 women and four trans genders would exercise their franchise.
In 2014, Jitendra Chaudhury (CPM) defeated Sachitra Debbarma (Congress) by a margin of 4,84,358 votes.
