Hectic campaign in West Tripura constituency ended on Saturday as election in the seat is slated for April 7 in the first phase along with some in Assam. Polling teams were despatched to their respective centres in the constituency of 12,46,019 voters.
The campaigning of candidates of different political parties reached to its height before 5PM deadline in the west constituency. Voting in east (tribal reserved) constituency will take place on April 12 in third phase of the poll calendar announced by the election commission.
13 candidates from different political parties and a few independents are contesting in West Tripura, but CPI(M), Congress and the Trinamool Congress are main contenders. The seat comprises of 30 assembly segments and remaining 30 segments fall in the east constituency.
Both Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal and director general of police C. Balasubramanian have informed of measures to hold free and peaceful election. Seven central observers, 554 micro observers and adequate number of sector officers are overseeing poll matters.
Altogether 35,000 central and state security troopers have been deployed across the state. Some of 1605 centres in west constituency declared sensitive, border with Bangladesh sealed and patrolling in some disturbed pockets intensified.
Voting will start at 7 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., but those who will be queuing at polling station before the deadline will be allowed to vote. Public holiday has been declared in areas under west and east constituency on their polling day.
