AGARTALA, Jan 20? Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh on Thursday night said here that all measures had been ensured to conduct free and fair polls in the state on February 26 next. Addressing a press conference at Circuit House here last night the CEC, flanked by his Election Commissioners T S Krishnamurthy and B B Tandon said, the poll process is going on, smoothly and the election will be conducted in free and fair manner. The CEC also expressed hope that the Central Government would send additional paramilitary force for the Tripura polls. ?The Ministry of Home Affairs is very responsive?, he said.
In the wake of the Opposition political parties? allegations Lyngdoh said it has been decided that Tripura State Rifles personnel would not be deployed in static, poll related duties in polling stations. They would, however, be allowed to provide security and other duties on the polling day. On the Special Police Officers, he said they would not be deployed in any election duty and will have to work under he command of other central paramilitary forces. It was clear that despite opposition demand the SPOs would not be disarmed. The Opposition parties were accusing that the SPO was formed with the ruling party cadres to terrorise the opposition activists.
On alleged manipulation of electoral roll, the CEC said the Chief Electoral Officer of the state Debasish Sircar will look into the matter if there are any specific allegations. He will also take decision in regards to specific instance of presence of an individual voter?s presence in two Assembly segments. In regards to identity card, he said in absence of the card any other reliable documents on presentation to the polling officers would serve the purpose. Though he rejected the Congress demand of bringing presiding officers from outside the State as ?impractical? the CEC, however, agreed that for polling duties employees from all organisations- affiliated to ruling and opposition-would be engaged proportionately. This was one among the major demands of the ruling Congress.
The CEC was also non-committal about the removal of a section of senior civil and police officials as demanded by the opposition parties. When his comment was sought on the demand for special arrangements for the internally displaced voters, the Chief Electoral Officer of the State Debashis Sircar said a survey has already been made by all the four district magistrates. But it was found that the displaced electorates had already got themselves enrolled in their nearest polling stations, as such there would be no reason for the special arrangements. He also assured that BSF and other security forces would be instructed to step up vigil along the Indo-Bangla border to prevent intrusion attempts before and during the polls.
Earlier, Lyngdoh and his two election commissioners and deputy election commissioner Sayan Chatterjee held series of meetings with the senior State government officials to review the poll preparedness in the State. His flight landed in the afternoon for bad weather condition. After his arrival the CEC first met political leaders of various parties in the State who submitted their memorandum to him. Following the political leaders, the CEC held review meeting with the four district magistrates and then Chief Secretary V Thulasidas, DGP Mathew John and ADG Pranay Sahay. The state government officials apprised the Election Commission about the poll preparedness throughout the state as well as law and order situation in details.