NEW DELHI, April 22 - Former Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi was on Monday appointed as special observer for Tripura where the Lok Sabha polls to one of the seats was postponed in view of the law and order situation.
On Tuesday last, the Election Commission (EC) had postponed polling in the Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat to the third phase on April 23 (Tuesday) from April 18, saying the prevailing law and order situation there is not conducive for holding free and fair polls.
Official sources said, the EC has issued orders appointing Zutshi as special observer for Tripura. Citing reports of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and special police observer, the poll panel had said, �The law and order situation prevailing � is not conducive to the holding of free and fair poll.�
The returning officer had feared that �miscreant elements� may thwart the polling process in the constituency. Based on the ground and intelligence reports, he had requested for additional Central police force.
Elections for the first phase were held on April 11. Congress and CPI(M) have demanded re-polling in 460 polling stations on the ground of rigging. � PTI
