The Election Commission of India (ECI) has engaged as many as 25 general observers, 19 expenditure observers and eight police observers for the state of Tripura to ensure that the upcoming Assembly election is conducted in a free and fair manner.
Tripura goes to polls on February 18 while the counting of votes will take place on March 3 next along with the other two poll-bound states of the North-east, Meghalaya and Nagaland, where polling will be held on February 27.
The general observers, mostly IAS officers from Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh cadres are expected to arrive in the State by January 31 and will stay till March 3 next, the polling day.
The police observers will also arrive on the same day, according to sources. January 31 is the last date of failing of nomination papers. The police observers will be deputed to oversee the security arrangement for the ensuing Assembly elections. Their services will also remain till March 3.
Meanwhile, the expenditure observers have already arrived in the state with their nomination coming into effect from January 24 last. They will remain on duty till March 4 next.
As per procedure, all the observers’ names, email address and telephone numbers were uploaded in the Chief Electorate Officer’s (CEO) official website for communication in case of any need related to the polls.