23 Observers Deployed for Civic Polls, Five Kept in Reserve; Tripura Election Commission Orders Close Monitoring

The Tripura State Election Commission has assigned special responsibilities to election observers and issued detailed instructions to ensure that the forthcoming municipal and urban local body elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner. A key meeting with 23 election observers was held at the State Guest House in Agartala on Thursday, while five additional observers have been kept in reserve. State Election Commissioner P K Chakraborty and Commission Secretary Anurag Sen attended the meeting.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chakraborty said the observers would function as the eyes and ears of the Election Commission. They will closely monitor the submission and scrutiny of nomination papers, verification of candidates' lists, enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and the overall law and order situation.

Apart from maintaining regular contact with the concerned Returning Officers, each observer has been instructed to visit the police stations under their respective jurisdictions and submit reports to the Commission on the prevailing situation. They will also be required to provide detailed reports on any violation of election rules, incidents of violence or other untoward developments.

The observers will remain on duty until the completion of vote counting and must submit their final reports to the Commission thereafter, Chakraborty said.

The State Election Commissioner also clarified the Commission's position on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the municipal and urban local body elections. He maintained that the use of EVMs does not violate any law or election regulation, adding that the process is being conducted in accordance with the applicable laws and prescribed rules. He also pointed out that EVMs had been used in local body elections in the past.

Meanwhile, responding to opposition allegations that candidates were being prevented from filing nomination papers at several places, including Mohanpur, Chakraborty said the opposition had brought the matter to the Commission's notice verbally and that the Commission was also aware of written complaints.

However, he claimed that discussions with the concerned Returning Officers had not substantiated the allegations. According to him, adequate security arrangements have been made at the offices of Returning Officers to facilitate the submission of nomination papers. He further said that neither the police nor the administration had reported any incident of candidates being obstructed from filing nominations or assaulted.

Based on the information received from Returning Officers and District Election Officers, the Commission has termed the opposition's allegations baseless, Chakraborty said.

With political parties trading allegations over the nomination process, the Commission's instructions underline its emphasis on monitoring every stage of the election, from the filing of nominations to the completion of vote counting.

Tripura, Tripura State Election Commission, Municipal Elections 2026, P K Chakraborty, Anurag Sen, Election Observers, EVM, Model Code of Conduct, Mohanpur, Civic Polls