The postal ballot voting for government employees and poll personnel will start from February 8th next.

Speaking with media persons Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kiran Gitte Thursday evening said that on Friday, the Election department will allot the symbols to respective political parties and will also start the printing of postal ballots.

He said that on the same day, the poll officials will also start the voting process for 80 plus voters and people with disabilities (PWD) voters in their respective houses.

Gitte said altogether 6,263 persons above 80 plus age have registered for voting in their houses, though state have 36,841 voters with age group of above 80 plus, only  1460  PWD voters  of total 16,860 voters , which is about 15 %  have registered their voting process in their respective houses.

He said that the electronic ballot papers for 10,000 service voters will also be sent on Friday across the country and as there was requisition from police or TSR, the TSR personnel deployed in other parts of the country will have to cast their vote in their respective constituencies.

While, highlighting the security scenario and Election Commission of India (ECI) steps to ensure free and fair elections, Gitte said that apart from 400 companies of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs), about 11,000 police and TSR will also be deployed in poll related duties and Election department have also asked the concern authorities to take process to seal the entire stretch of Indo-Bangla border before election. He said that the Chief Secretary of Tripura will take measures to seal borders of neighbouring states Assam and Mizoram.

He said that all 185 licensed arms were already seized and deposited and security forces have also set up 206 Naka points across the state, through which the security forces are getting success for curbing crime and narcotic trade.

Gitte also said that after increases of 9 polling stations, the state now has 3,337 polling stations across 60 assembly constituencies and this time ECI will set up 4 model polling stations. This time, the poll panel will also set 93 all-women manage polling stations, one polling station managed by PWD and few more polling stations managed by youths.

The CEO denied the allegation made by former BJP MLA and independent candidate of Krishnapur constituency, Dr Atul Debbarma and claimed that there was no such incident as he has three security guards and the poll panel has ensured security to all candidates by assessing their threat perceptions.