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Tripura civic polls on Dec 11

By Correspondent - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

AGARTALA, Nov 15 � Setting aside all speculations, the State Election Commission has announced that the polls to the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) and 15 Nagar Panchayats will be held on December 11.

While submission of nomination papers will be allowed from November 16 to 23, the scrutiny will be done on November 23. The last date of withdrawal is November 26 and counting will be conducted on December 14, according to the poll schedule. The model code of conduct has come into effect from November 14 itself.

Declaring the civic poll schedule, the State Election Commissioner YP Singh on Sunday said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in the polling.

The number of total electorates in Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) stands at 2.60 lakh while there are 1.74 lakh voters for 15 Nagar Panchayats. Aiming to ensure a free-and-fair poll, Singh said that as many as 25 observers would be appointed to monitor the entire poll process. For the first time, 50 per cent of the seats have been reserved for women.

As expected, the ruling Left Front has already declared its aspirants to the coming civic elections. Of the total 34 candidates for the prestigious AMC polls, as many as 19 are new faces while 15 are sitting councillors. The number of CPM nominees stands at 28 while the two Left allies � Forward Bloc and RSP got two wards each.

Setting the tune for the civic poll, Left Front convener Khagen Das has sharply criticised the opposition Congress for ignoring the development activities in the State. Talking to reporters on Monday, he alleged that leaders from the opposition party have been targeting the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues by passing derogatory remarks. �Such blatant derogatory remarks by leaders of a responsible political party are not expected. We hope, they will refrain from talking nonsense�, he said.

Das further alleged, the Congress doesn�t speak for people, they always indulge in negative politics. �People are well aware of the development activities being undertaken by the LF controlled civic bodies and will vote for the ruling Front�, he said.