TRIPURA POSTAL BALLOTTING FOR POLLING STAFF, SECURITY PERSONNEL BEGINS

Postal ballotting for the February 18 Tripura Assembly elections by the polling staff and security personnel began on Saturday and will continue till the middle of next week. Around 50,000 polling and security personnel, engaged for the February 18 elections, began their voting from Saturday through postal ballots. The polling and security personnel would cast their vote in the offices of 41 returning officers throughout the state. The process of postal vote would continue till February 14. Drivers of the vehicles, to be used in the assembly elections, and micro-observers would also cast their votes through postal ballots. One third of the 3,214 polling stations set up across the state are categorised as "sensitive" and additional security measures would be taken for them. 40 all-women polling stations would be set up. The state has 60 assembly constituencies spread across eight districts.

The Election Commission has appointed 25 general observers, eight police observers and 19 expenditure observers to oversee the poll process in Tripura. Over 30,000 civil officials would be engaged to conduct the single phase assembly elections on February 18.