The Election Commission of India (ECI) is taking all measures to ensure free and fair elections in Tripura and the Commission will also ensure every voter of the state will cast their vote only themselves, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura.

Participating in an awareness campaign on ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation-2024’ (SVEEP) by drawing ‘Alphanas’ in front of Election department office in Agartala on Thursday, which  was inaugurated by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura, Puneet Agarwal , who said that  any kind of violence or mal-practices during voting process would not be tolerated by the Commission.

 ECI urges all voters of the state that they should participate in the voting process largely and if they face any kind of obstruction to cast their vote in person, the voter should immediately contact their nearest poll officials to ensure their rights, said Agarwal.

The Election department in Tripura after enforcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which has affected across Tripura since March 16th last, the Commission has received many complaints over violation of MCC and after verifying the complaints, the ECI has taken stern action if the they find the complaints are true.

Agarwal said that so far , the ECI has suspended six government employees including teachers and security personnel, who were directly involved with political activities.

On the question of time allotment to different political parties for their campaigns, Agarwal said that ECI never allows rival political parties same time and same spot for their campaign and if any party violates these scheduled time slots, then Commission will take action as  per law.

He added that altogether 84 companies of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) arrived in the state and have been deployed across Tripura to ensure free and fair elections in two Lok Sabha seats.

While the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 19, voting in the Tripura East seat will be held on April 26.

Giving details of the security preparations Agarwal said that along with 84 companies CAPFs, 5000 TSR personnel have also deployed across the state for poll related duties.

As per the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI), more than 350 Flying Squad Team (FST) and  Static Surveillance Team(SST) are functional across the state and the poll panel has set up more than 1000 vehicle checking points and more than 100 permanent Nakas .

Thousands of  flag marches by CAPF alone were conducted and security forces have already checked  lakhs vehicles with collection of above crore of fine money.

The state police and other security forces have also seized different narcotic items, liquors and gambling articles etc and till date , police have also made over 12,000 preventive arrests.

The by-poll to the Ramnagar assembly constituency will be held on April 19 in the first phase of Parliamentary elections and adequate number of CAPFs have also deployed for by-polls to Ramnagar assembly constituency and security forces are now performing election-related duties – patrolling, area-dominance and flag marches – to build confidence among the voters, said CEO.

He that the prohibitory orders have been imposed along the India-Bangladesh border, where vigil has been intensified to thwart any intrusion bid during the election process.