AGARTALA, June 9 (TIWN): Tripura State Election Commission will take measures to ensure free and fair panchayat poll in the state schedule to held on July.

Talking to TIWN, State Election Commissioner Y. Kumar at secretariat on Monday said an atmosphere in which each and every voter is able to access the polling station without being influenced by anybody is an important pre-requisite to a fair and transparent election. Hence, we will direct the authorities to take stern action against perpetrators whoever it may be, of unlawful activities.

He stressed on the need for sharing information with political parties and candidates about various instructions of the Commission relating to Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and other election processes. The State Election Commission on Sunday held a marathon meeting with Block Development Officers (BDO) from all 58 blocks of the state and all eight District Magistrates (DM) to assess the current preparedness for the coming Panchayat election.

The Election Commissioner in the meeting has asked its officers to coordinate and take measures to create an environment of confidence and security for conducting free and fair panchayat elections in the state. The election commission has instructed the officials to strictly adhere to rules and regulations stipulated by the commission.

Election for panchayats in Left ruled Tripura would be held in July, Polling would be conducted in 6.111 seats in 591 gram panchayats, 419 seats in 35 panchayat samities and 116 seats in eight zilla parishads. In all the local government bodies, 50 percent seats are reserved for women. 

Meanwhile all party meeting has been convened by SEC on June 11 to brief political parties about the preparedness made by the election commission for panchayat poll. However, Tripura Pradesh Trinamool Congress demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in upcoming panchayat elections in the state to ensure free and fair election.