AGARTALA, May 3 (TIWN): Tripura Tribal Council on Sunday went for poll to 28 seats with 7.58 lakhs voters casting their vote to decide the fate of 175 candidates for 28 constituencies of the tribal council. The voting begun from 7:00 AM on Sunday amidst tight security across the state. Voting is being held at 1,070 polling stations in the TTAADC areas, whose jurisdiction covers two-third of Tripura`s 10,491.69 square km territory. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in the TTAADC polls for the first time. According to the officials, there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state. The officials said, “The central paramilitary forces along with BSFs and local police are deployed across ADC areas to maintain peace.” However, but a section of opposition parties on Sunday alleged that no CPMF or other security forces were witnessed to be absent at maximum polling booths, as a result the voters are casting their vote amidst no security forces. The opposition also claimed that no security forces infront of the polling booths might result to cause any untoward incidents during the vote. Besides, the IPFT alleged that this time the election to TTAADC is not being conducted with free and fair manner, as the ruling party managed to create havoc across the ADC areas in some parts of the state.

However, talking to TIWN in this regard Superintendent of Police (Police Control) Uttam Kumar Bhowmik said, “It was earlier decided that no CPMFs would be deployed infront og the polling stations, only the local police along with the TSR police are deployed there.”

“The CPMFs were deployed across the ADC areas and are set to keep a strict vigil along with the bordering areas and other parts,” Bhowmik told to TIWN on Sunday noon. Adding to that he also said that as of now no untoward incidents were reported from anywhere.

Around 13,000 security personnel are deployed for election to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on Sunday, according to the officials.

Polling for the TTAADC, a constitutional body viewed almost equivalent to state assembly, were being held peacefully in the morning. An average 50 percent polling was recorded in the elections to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) till 12 PM.

According to the reports from the sub-divisions, long queues of voters were witnessed from morning onwards infront of the polling booths.