CPI(M) Tripura state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury has approached the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking stringent security arrangements and safeguards for the counting of votes in the recently held TTAADC Village Committee elections.
In a letter to the State Election Commissioner, Chowdhury raised concerns over the possibility of disturbances during counting, referring to alleged incidents of violence and intimidation faced by opposition parties during the election process.
He urged the Commission to ensure that counting is conducted peacefully and transparently, with adequate security at all counting centres.
The CPI(M) leader proposed deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at counting halls and sought permission for eligible counting agents from TTAADC areas in accordance with the arrangements followed during the previous TTAADC general election.
He also demanded continuous webcasting of the counting process and strict restrictions on the entry of unauthorised persons into counting halls.
According to Chowdhury, once counting begins, it should proceed without interruption until the process is completed.
The party also requested police protection for opposition counting agents travelling to and from counting centres, wherever such assistance is sought.
Besides, the CPI(M) called for separate designated areas for supporters of different contesting parties and adequate police deployment around such locations to prevent clashes and maintain law and order during the counting phase.
