Tripura: Election Department has launched ‘Mission Zero Poll Violence’ and ‘Mission 929’

The schedule for general election to Tripura Legislative Assembly, 2023, is likely to be declared in the month of January, 2023. In this context, special initiative has been taken by the Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura to launch two missions on 31st December, 2022 at Pragna Bhaban through a colorful programme organized in presence of the Chief Secretary, Government of Tripura, Sri J K Sinha, Director General of Police Sri Amitabh Ranjan, Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura, Sri Kiran Gitte, Additional Director General of Police, Sri Saurabh Tripathi, IG, CRPF, Tripura Sector, Sri Ravideep Singh Sahi, CAPF Force Commander for Tripura Assembly Election. Secretary, Home Department, Sri Saradindhu Chowdhury, all District Election Officers, Superintendents of Police, Returning Officers, Asst. Returning Officers of West Tripura, Sepahijala & Khowai Districts and Sector Officers of West Tripura Districts. The missions are:-

Mission 929: the main target of mission is to increase the poll percentage in ensuing Tripura Assembly Election, 2023. Voters’ turnout analysis of Assembly Election 2018 shows that there were 929 Polling Stations in Tripura out of total 3214 Polling Stations where the poll percentage was below 88. District wise breakup of such Polling stations is – West Tripura District-204, Sepahijala District-119, Khowai District-65, Gomati District-79, South Tripura District -38, Dhalai District-141, Unakoti District-105, North Tripura District- 178

In this General Election, special focus will be given on these 929 Polling Stations to reach poll percentage above 92 % by adopting steps like intensive SVEEP campaigns , focus on Urban Youth to participate in large numbers, special awareness programs on EVMs & VVPATs, visit of the house of 80+ and PwD voters by the Officials of Election Department, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, all requisite arrangements like ramp, wheelchair, separate queues etc. will be arranged at every polling station to facilitate the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability, special security measures like frequent visit by Civil & Police Sector Officers, AROs, ROs, SPs and DEOs, area domination by CAPF for confidence building of the voters etc. in these selected polling stations.

Mission Zero Poll Violence: In the ensuing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Tripura, 2023, the Election Department, Tripura has set a mission to conduct the election without any violence. Even though the Assembly Elections in Tripura are held in festive mood, it is often marred by occasional poll violence. During Assembly Elections in 2018 and elections to the Autonomous District Council in 2021, there were incidents of poll related violence and police cases were registered. Strict action has been taken by the Police Department to create deterrence for repetition of any kind of poll violence.

Moreover, Election Department, Tripura has planned to raise mass awareness among the political parties, workers and voters to focus on the political aspect of the Elections and to shun the violence. It is proposed to work in mission mode to conduct coming Assembly Elections of the State with an aim of “ZERO POLL VIOLENCE”. Every stakeholder shall endeavor to come out with all-out efforts to make the mission a reality.

For this purpose, following administrative and awareness steps are proposed to be taken over the next two months:

• Sensitization workshops shall be held in all the 60 Assembly Constituencies involving political parties, workers and eminent citizens highlighting the importance of Zero Poll Violence.
• The flag march, road march by the CAPF shall start in advance to ensure confidence building among the political workers for campaigning and among the citizens to cast their votes freely without any fear.
• The security forces are being deployed well before the poll process so that they get familiar with the locality. Local police have been asked to extend necessary cooperation to the CAPF.
• The State police shall ensure all miscreants/trouble mongers/history sheeters are either kept in constant watch or bounded under relevant sections of Cr PC.
• Setting up adequate naka points to monitor the illegal movement of arms, persons to vitiate the poll process.
• Use of deterrent measures like web-casting of poll process, videography outside the Polling Stations to keep miscreants at bay shall be ensured.
• Deployment of adequate security coverage by CAPF personnel, smooth management of queues etc. so that there is no gathering outside the polling stations.
• Micro level strategy to face the challenge of poll related violence – Every Thana /Police Station shall make their own strategy depending upon their respective ground level inputs to ensure 100% violence free election.

With the above concerted efforts by the Election Officials, State Police, Central Armed Para-Military Forces and enforcement agencies, it would be possible to achieve the objectives of “Mission Zero Poll Violence.”

All the dignitaries have appreciated the initiatives taken by the Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura and stressed upon the importance of violence free poll with higher poll percentage. In order to ensure this, all sorts of measures will be taken by Civil & Police Administration.