Agartala, September 27: Polling teams carrying ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election materials left dispatch centres across Tripura on Sunday and proceeded to their assigned polling stations, a day before voting for the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The movement of polling officials and security personnel was witnessed in several parts of the state as authorities completed the final arrangements for Monday’s polling.
In Dhalai district’s Ambassa RD Block, polling personnel began leaving the designated dispatch centre around 8 am for 41 polling stations in the block.
Officials supervising the dispatch process said polling teams had been directed to reach their respective stations within the stipulated time and complete preparations before voting begins.
Returning Officer and BDO Barnita Biswas said arrangements had been made to facilitate the safe movement of polling personnel and ensure security during the deployment.
“Our priority is to ensure that all polling personnel reach their stations safely and that the polling process is conducted peacefully,” Biswas told reporters.
She also appealed to voters to come to polling stations without apprehension and exercise their franchise while maintaining peace and discipline.
The Village Committee elections are being held after a gap of 10 years and are expected to see voters across the ADC areas exercise their franchise to elect representatives to the local village-level bodies.
Unlike Assembly or Lok Sabha elections where electronic voting machines are used, the Village Committee polls will be conducted through ballot papers. The paper-ballot system will also be used by young and first-time voters participating in the elections.
Election officials have arranged for the transportation of ballot papers, ballot boxes and other polling materials to the designated stations. Security personnel have been deployed at polling locations and along routes taken by polling teams as part of measures to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
The dispatch of polling teams marked one of the final stages of the administrative preparations, with officials monitoring the movement of personnel and materials to ensure that all polling stations are ready before voting starts.
The elections follow an intensive campaign period in the TTAADC areas, with political parties holding public meetings, organisational programmes and door-to-door campaigns.
Authorities have urged voters, candidates and political workers to cooperate with election officials and maintain peace during the polling process.
With voting scheduled for Monday, the administration is focused on ensuring that polling personnel remain in position, election materials are secured and voters are able to exercise their franchise without disruption.
The deployment of polling teams across the ADC areas has effectively set the stage for voting, bringing the 10-year wait for the Village Committee elections to an end.
