Lok Sabha Polls: Stage set to hold repoll in 168 booths of West Tripura

CEO Sriram Taranikanti said that as many as 1200 polling officials along with more than 2000 central paramilitary personnel have been engaged for conducting repoll, in which 1,41,251 electorates will vote for 13 candidates between 0700 and 1700 hrs.

ECI had declared the voting held in these polling stations void based on reports submitted by Chief Electoral Officer, Special Observer and Returning Officer of West Tripura. While Returning officer Dr Sandeep M Mahatame has been replaced, FIR and disciplinary proceeding have been drawn against a large number of polling officials and micro observers engaged in West Tripura elections on the charge of vitiating the poll process.

However, opposition CPI (M) and Congress have moved the Supreme Court separately against ECI's decision of holding repoll in 168 booths whereas RO in his report had mentioned that polling process was vitiated in 433 booths. The Congress sought fresh polls in the constituency and also asked CEO to provide them video footage of those 433 booths, which would be submitted to court as evidence.

The apex court at the time of accepting the petition of CPI (M) candidate Shankar Prasad Datta rejected his demand of priority hearing before the scheduled repoll on May 12 next and Chief Justice directed to hear the case as usual. The petition of former minister Jairam Ramesh on behalf of Congress has not yet come for hearing.

Both the parties demanded fresh poll in West Tripura seat alleging large scale violence, booth capturing and poll rigging at the behest of the ruling BJP. Meanwhile, ruling BJP moved ECI seeking removal of CEO Tripura Sriram Tranikanti, alleging him of favouring opposition parties during first phase poll in the seat on April 11 last. But ECI did not accept any of the demands raised by both the ruling and opposition.

"The ECI had appointed former Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi, as Special Observer for Tripura after getting complaints against polling process in West Tripura. All arrangements have been made and tight security in place to prevent any untoward incident,”the CEO said.

Armed CAPF jawans were deployed at each polling station under SDPO concerned. Senior officers would supervise the security apparatus. The observers of commission have been keeping a close watch on the entire poll process. Prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPC has been imposed within 200 meter area of all polling stations under West Tripura constituency.