In Tripura, the Gazette Notification will be issued tomorrow for the first phase of election in the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency. Last date of filing nomination papers for the first phase is 27th of this month, whereas the scrutiny of nominations will take place on the following day i.e. on 28th of March. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is 30th March. Voting for the Tripura (West) Lok Sabha seat will take place on 19th of April. Addressing a press conference in Agartala today, Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Puneet Agrawal appealed the political parties to desist from making any statements on religion and caste lines and to talk on the issues concerning the people.
He also appealed the ruling party not to misuse the government machinery. There are over 28.56 lakh electorates who are expected to exercise their right to franchise in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections next month. The CEO said that there are more than 14 lakh voters in the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency and 13.95 lakh electorates in Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat. Voting for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat will take place in the second phase on 26th of April. Gazette notification will be issued on 28th March and last date of nomination filing will be till 4th April. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on 5th April and candidates can withdraw their nominations on 8th April.
Home voting facility will be provided to senior citizens above the age of 85 years and to Divyangjans. The CEO said the number of senior citizens who are 85 years and above is 18,676, whereas, the number of divyang voters is 19,876. There will be 3,349 polling stations in the state. In Tripura (East) seat there will be 1664 polling stations and in Tripura (West) there will be 1685 polling stations. There will 121 model polling stations. The all women managed polling stations will be two in each assembly segment and 154 in both parliamentary seats. Whereas, in the jurisdiction of Agartala, Udaipur and Dharmanagar Municipal Corporations there will be a minimum of 5 women managed polling stations.
He also said that 70 companies of Central Armed Police Force and BSF personnel have reached Tripura. Mr. Agrawal said that more central forces will arrive in Tripura as the date for first phase of polling approaches. He said the limit on election expenditure in each Lok Sabha constituency for a political party is ₹95 lakh.
