Guwahati: The Chief Election Officer (CEO) Kiran Gitte has stated that the counting of ballots will take place in 21 centres that were set up throughout 60 Assembly Constituencies making an appeal for peace throughout Tripura.
CEO Gitte stated that aside from a few isolated occurrences over the past nine days the election on February 16 was conducted calmly.
“Incidents were many less, except some sporadic incidents that took place soon after the election concluded. On March 2 the counting will be held in 21 counting centers and for which 60 counting observers were appointed. After Monday they will start arriving. I also want to appeal to everyone to maintain the peaceful situation after poll results”, he said.
According to him, the CEO, Chief Secretary JK Sinha, DGP Amitabha Ranjan and all eight districts have been visited in the recent five days to check the arrangements for the vote counting.
“We have held a series of meetings with all the political parties, candidates, and with their agents and appealed to them to maintain peace. On 27th and 28th we will be held peace meetings in every polling station with all the voters, eminent citizens, and others”, said Gitte adding that March 02 will be a dry day.
The CEO noted that eight occurrences up until February 21 resulted in the detention of 22 people regarding violence but no instances occurred after that date.
CEO Gitte has urged all of the state’s residents to assemble at their separate polling places, participate in a peace rally with the theme “We are for non-violence, we are for peace,” which will be arranged by the Election Department, and then unanimously decide in favour of peace.
“As we were all friendly earlier, we will remain so even after the announcement of the results of the Tripura Legislative Assembly Election, 2023 on 02-03-2023. Whatever the outcome of the election, we will accept it as an expression of the people’s will and we will accept the people’s verdict with respect. We will ensure the protection of all citizens, livestock, property, and all types of institutions in this area”, he added.
“Media centers have to be set up at each Counting Centre with reasonable facilities like telephone, data communication network, etc. Returning Officer shall deploy one senior officer to be in charge of the Media Centre, preferably from the Public Relations Department”, said Gitte.