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Polls for 20 Tripura civic bodies today

By Correspondent

AGARTALA, Dec 8 - Over 5.24 lakh electors would decide the fate of 886 candidates of all major political parties in the elections to the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and 19 municipal councils and nagar panchayats to be held tomorrow, official sources confirmed here today.

The counting of votes is scheduled for December 12.

Of the total number of candidates in the fray, the number of female candidates stands at 429, a record in the State�s electoral history.

Altogether 20,027 voters would decide the fate of 48 candidates in the by-elections to 17 seats in the Panchayat.

Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner (SEC) GK Rao said that for the smooth conduct of the polls, 20 Returning Officers and 25 Observers have been appointed, while 18 counting halls have been established. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections, he said and added that the polling personnel have already left for their respective polling booths.

Speaking to media-persons at the Civil Secretariat here, the SEC said polling personnel have already cast their votes through postal ballots.

The ruling Left Front has already won 10 seats uncontested after the Opposition parties failed to put up candidates.

Of the total polling stations, 378 polling booths have been identified as A category, while 279 polling booths have been rated as B category.

�Five armed cops will guard A category booths, while three armed policemen will keep surveillance in B category booths,� said Inspector General (IG), Law and Order Anurag Dhankar.

He said altogether 6,600 security personnel would be pressed into service to conduct the elections free and fair. This includes 15 companies of CRPF, who have already taken the charge of all strong rooms and counting halls. Around 160 Forest Guards would also be engaged in the election-related duties, he added.

IANS added: �Electronic Voting Machines would be used to conduct the elections in the municipal bodies while old Bungo and Godrej type ballot boxes would be used for the by-polls to the gram panchayats and panchayat samities,� said Rao, who was earlier the Chief Secretary of Tripura.

The 144-year-old Agartala Municipal Corporation is the oldest municipal body in the northeastern region. The Agartala municipality, which turned into a corporation two years back, was constituted in 1871.

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