Agartala, November 08, 2022: Tripura’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kiran Gitte on Tuesday convened an all-political party meeting at Civil Secretariat where representatives from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian National Congress were present.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the meeting, CEO Gitte highlighted the starting of “Special Summary Revision-2023” from November 9 next and in connection to this, Election commission of India directed us to hold a meeting with recognized political parties.
“This is for the first time, we have given a presentation to all political parties. We have noted all of their points. We have assured that the process will be completed in a free and fair way. I want to appeal to the people of Tripura who have not enrolled their names in the list from tomorrow”, he added.
Sharing the points discussed in the meeting, BJP Election Committee In-Charge Balai Goswami said “For the 2023 election, the discussion on voter list was held. We have raised issues about false voters and in the 2018 election we have identified around 37,000 false voters. We have told the commission to conduct an inquiry to remove the names of false voters. We have also asked for a neat and clean voter list. Other political parties’ representatives have talked about the law and order situation. They were reluctant to ask the Election Commission about fresh and clean voter lists. Their main agenda was to divert the attention of ECI.”
CPIM West Tripura District secretary Ratan Das: After an invitation from Election Commission of India, I came here for an all-party meeting. From tomorrow, revision of the voter list will start and regarding this they asked for our suggestions. We have clearly mentioned that those who work in enrolling names in voter lists are also coming under attack. Democracy is nowhere in this state. We have informed the ECI. We have demanded to arrange security while enrolling names of new voters and securities for election officials. We have noticed that other political parties have also echoed the same.”
Former Congress MLA Asish Kumar Saha alleged that a section of ruling party people are making untiring efforts to include the names of fake voters which cannot be entertained. “Nowadays, birth certificates and other certificates are available where birth of years are clearly mentioned so they should enroll in it by verifying everything. BLOs are suffering from insecurity. We have also demanded more deployment of paramilitary forces during all election related works”, he added.
Being asked about the enrolment of BRU voters, the CEO said that the 100 percent enrolment of BRU voters will be completed within next month. “If they are coming to the rehabilitation camps for settlement, we will enroll them. Now, it is their choice where they will rehabilitate and which camp to select. Our duty is as soon as they are rehabilitated, within very few days we give them the plot, house allowance, RoR is updated. So we are doing it on a real time basis”, he said.
Gitte also said that the Election Commission wants 100 percent of enrollment. “As election is approaching, we are requesting the BRU people to go there and enrol as soon as possible. After putting their date of birth in the software, their names will automatically be enrolled on the first day of April, July, October and January”, he also added.
The Chief Electoral Officer further said that the Election Commission of India has brought a new and advanced opportunity where a link of filling up of Form VI will be provided to the authority of every college. Special campaigns will be done for the students who have completed 17, 18, 19, etc. years of their life journey. We want 100 percent new voters to be enrolled in the voter list.”
