AGARTALA, Nov 6 (TIWN): Tripura will go to poll for its civic bodies on 9th December 2015. An announcement for the poll date has been made by the state Election Commissioner at the civil secretariat this evening. The model code of conduct has comes to immediate effect in all municipal areas. The bye election for panchayet will also be held on the same day. State Election Commissioner G Kameswer Rao announcing the poll date for the civic bodies and the bye poll for panchayet said notification for the important civic bodies will be issued on 12th November. Last date for submission of nomination is 19th November. Nomination papers will be scrutinized on 20th November and nomination may be withdrawn on 23rd November. Counting will take place on 12th December. The entire election process will be completed by 15th December. Election commissioner said in the poll both EVM and Ballot papers will be used. While the EVM will be used in the Civic polls the ballot papers in three colours will be used in panchayet.

State election commission has requisitioned for adequate security forces but primarily the state police and Tripura States Rifles will be pressed in to service, Rao said. On the question of whether there is any sensitive areas has been identified in the poll, Rao said it is the responsibility of the state Home department, however such exercise has not yet been done by the state police.  He said all DMs have been entrusted with the charge of District Municipal Election Officers and has been asked to conduct the poll for civic bodies as well as bye-election for panchayet. Rao said Model Code of Conduct will be enforced only on the municipal and panchayet areas where voting will take place. All other code of conduct as of Election Commission of India will also be enforced henceforth, he said.

The tenure of the offices of all civic bodies will expire on 21^st December.

The political atmosphere in the state get heated by the declaration of municipal election with the ruling parties are all set to retain power as the divided opposition is virtually in a state coma so far as their organizational activities are concern. The main opposition Congress has already been alienated from the people of the state and its chief is currently in jail in an arms case. The ruling party has already finalized their candidates list for 20 civic bodies and panchayet while the opposition parties are yet to hold meeting to chalk out their strategies for the coming poll.

Total 5 lakhs 37 thousands 968 voters will cast their votes in the civic poll whereas 22 thousands969 will exercise their rights for panchayet. Total women voters in the civic poll as registered is 2 lakhs 68 thousands 754 as the voter list published on 4^th November. 676 polling stations have will be opened for the poll.

Tripura Municipal election-2015

Poll schedule

(As announced by the state election commission)

1. Date of issuance of Notification-12-11-2015
2. Last date of nomination-19-11-2015
3. Date of scrutiny-20-11-2015
4. Last date of withdrawal-23-11-2015 up to 3 pm
5. Date of poll-09-12-2015
6. Date of counting-12-12-2015
7. Date before which election process will be completed-15-12-2015
8. Hours of commencement and close of poll- 7.00 am to 5.00 pm
9. Commencement of counting-8.00 am

Total voters-female-268754

                       -Male-269214

               Total voters-537968

Number of municipalities and polling station

1. North district-2 municipalities-44 polling stations
2. Unakoti district-2 municipalities-31 polling stations
3. Dhalai district-2 municipalities-24 polling stations
4. Khowai district-2 municipalities-31 polling stations
5. West district-4 municipalites-426 polling stations
6. Sepahijala district-3 municipalities-40 polling stations
7. Gomati district-2 municipalities-41 polling stations
8. South district-3 municipalities-39 polling stations

All DMs are-District Municipal Election Officers

All SDMs are Returning officers for the poll

Methods of poll for civic bodies-EVM

Methods for poll for panchayet for bye-elections-Ballot papers

Ballot papers for panchayet poll-white for Gram panchayet

                                                       -Pink for Panchayet Samities

                                                       -Green for Zilla parishad