From Our Correspondent
Agartala: To ensure free and fair counting, the Election Commission has engaged sixty Observers to oversee the entire process for 60-memebr Tripura Assembly.
A total of sixty observers will remain present in all the counting halls besides one micro – observer will also be there to supervise the entire counting process, said Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal here on Wednesday.
Observers would start arriving here at least two-day ahead of the counting begins.
As per the schedule, the counting in 17 places would begin on February 28 along with two states- Meghalaya and Nagaland. As part of precautionary measure, CCTV coverage will be ensured in each counting hall to make the entire counting process transparent.
As per the schedule, the counting process would begin at 7 am with the counting of Postal Ballots and the counting of polled EVMs will kick start at 11 pm.
“It will take two/three hours to complete the counting process as this will start simultaneously in all the 17 Counting Centers. To ensure smooth functioning of counting, all necessary arrangements have been made”, said the CEO.
The election to the 60-member Assembly was conducted on February 14 with witnessed huge turnout- 93 percent. After conducting the polling, all the polled EVMs were kept in 17 Strong Rooms amid tight security.
CPI(M) State secretary Bijan Dhar and Pradesh Congress Committee president Sudip Roy Burman- both are optimistic about the their victory.
While the CPM led Left Front hopes for more seats and votes, the opposition- Congress-INPT-NCT combine eyes for comfortable majority in the election.
MEanwhile, Normal life has been paralyzed in Tripura on Wednesday on the first day of general strike called by 11 trade unions where ruling left front extended their support to agitation. Besides, market and transport, government offices, railway, banks and insurance sectors have also been affected due to strike.
Left Front’s trade union CITU claimed that the strike would continue till Thursday to press for a 10-point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions. (with inputs from UNI)