AGARTALA, Dec 9 (TIWN): Amid tight security Vote cast for altogether 20 civic bodies including Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), 13 Municipal Councils and 6 Nagar Panchayats began in the state on Wednesday morning in the all the polling booths.Polling commenced from sharp 7-00 AM and is scheduled to end at 5-00 PM. The counting of ballots will start at 8-00 AM on December 12and end by afternoon. Arrangements have been made for 5, 24,612 electorate to exercise their franchise in this phase in which 886 candidates including 429 women are contesting.Almost in all the polling booths, huge queue of electorate’s are noticed since morning. The vote cast in underway in full swing amidst tight security and mood of festivity.To conduct the elections, twenty Returning Officers and 25 Observers have been appointed while altogether 18 counting halls have been established. A total of 3,300 polling personnel are appointed for the municipal election to keep strict security vigilance. However, a large number of 5, 24,612 will cast vote and decide the fate of the 886 aspiring candidates in the Municipal election. Altogether 20,027 voters would decide the fate of 48 candidates in the by-elections to 17 seats in the Panchayat. Regular patrolling of the security force is underway in full swing to conduct free and fair election in the state.Altogether Congress has 272 candidates, 273 for left front and 255 of BJP candidates are into fray for the election and a total 5, 24,612 electorates will decide the fate of the aspiring candidates in the state.

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

It is to be mentioned here that so far there is no report of any untoward incident and vote cast in underway in all the polling booths safely.

However all the political party have full hope and faith to win the election.

Elections to prestigious Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and nineteen Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats are all set to witness triangular fight with all major political parties- Left Front, Congress and BJP contesting the battle of ballots separately.

A total of 6,600 security personnel are deployed to conduct free and fair election. As the authority is looking forward to conduct safe election in the state, the state administration has geared up with all safety measures.

In order to ensure free and fair civic elections in Tripura, the Union Home Ministry sanctioned the deployment of 15 companies of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) for election duties and the force has also arrived in the state.

Vote cast on Wednesday held to the 49-seat Agartala Municipal Corporation, 13 municipal councils and five Nagar Panchayats across the state.