Even as the rigorous and unprecedented campaign came to an end in Tripura, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Tarikanti on Friday issued an appeal to the voters of the poll-bound state to exercise their franchise without any ‘fear or intimidation’.
Tripura goes to polls on Sunday while counting is slated for March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya, where voting will take place on February 27 next.
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The Election Commission has appointed a special observer, RK Panchananda, a former DG of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to oversee the overall security arrangement on the day of polling.
He is taking full charge on Saturday.
Meanwhile, two helicopters are being kept ready to meet any emergency while an air ambulance will also be pressed into service in the need arises as per the EC guideline.
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The CEO further informed that some companies of additional central forces will stay back in the State even after completion of polling to ensure peace and tranquillity.
The CEO also said one third of the total polling booths have been identified as vulnerable and security has been heightened at those polling booths to ensure free and fair polling.
The CEO also allayed fears over EVMs and VVPATs saying these are ‘safest’ and that proper step has been taken to ensure total secrecy of polling process.
“Webcasting of almost all polling booths will be done by which even EC official could monitor the polling process at any particular time”, he further said.
Meanwhile, over 50,000 votes have been polled by postal ballots.