Preparations for the upcoming Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) have gained momentum, with the Tripura State Election Commission holding a detailed review meeting with Returning Officers and other officials on Monday.

State Election Commissioner Pradip Kumar Chakraborty said a special workshop was conducted for Returning Officers, most of whom are Block Development Officers (BDOs), to ensure they are well-equipped to handle the different stages of the electoral process.

The discussions covered scrutiny of nomination papers, finalisation of the list of contesting candidates, election rules and procedures, security arrangements and the counting of votes. The Commission stressed the need for Returning Officers to have a clear understanding of the rules to ensure the elections are conducted smoothly and transparently.

Chakraborty said the State Election Commission, along with the state government, has submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court in connection with the election schedule. The poll process is expected to be completed by September.

Security arrangements also figured prominently during the review. According to the State Election Commissioner, the Commission has already held discussions with police authorities regarding the law-and-order situation. Another meeting will soon be convened to further assess security requirements and identify potential challenges during the elections.

Both state police personnel and central security forces are likely to be deployed across sensitive areas to maintain peace and ensure the elections are conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

With the long-awaited Village Committee polls approaching, the Election Commission is now focusing on strengthening administrative and security preparedness ahead of the electoral process.