SEC Holds All-Party Meeting Ahead of Elections to 21 ULBs, Parties Raise Concerns Over EVMs and Voter Lists

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 15, 2026

With elections to 21 urban local bodies across Tripura approaching, the State Election Commission (SEC) on Wednesday convened an all-party meeting in Agartala to review election preparedness, discuss arrangements for free and fair polling, and address concerns raised by political parties regarding security, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), voter lists, nominations, scrutiny and the overall conduct of the electoral process.

The meeting was chaired by the State Election Commissioner PK Chakraborty and Secretary Anurag Sen, TCS and attended by representatives of different political parties, senior election officials and other concerned authorities. The discussions focused on ensuring that the upcoming municipal elections, including those to the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), are conducted in a peaceful, transparent and orderly manner.

According to the information available from the meeting, the Commission reviewed preparations at different stages of the election process and invited political parties to place their concerns and suggestions on record. The meeting was considered an important step towards building coordination between the election authorities, the administration and political parties ahead of the polls.

The State Election Commission briefed political representatives on the progress of election preparations, including the publication of electoral rolls, identification of polling stations and completion of other arrangements required for the elections.

The Commission also discussed the ongoing checking and preparation of Electronic Voting Machines. First-level checking of EVMs was underway in different districts, with representatives of political parties and government officials present during the process.

The Commission indicated that the preparatory work was progressing in accordance with the prescribed procedures. It also emphasised the importance of completing each stage within the stipulated timeframe to avoid administrative difficulties before polling.

The process of finalising polling stations and preparing the final electoral rolls was also reviewed. The Commission stressed that the accuracy of voter lists and the proper management of polling arrangements would be essential to ensure that eligible voters could exercise their franchise without unnecessary difficulty.

Representatives of the political parties used the meeting to raise concerns relating to different stages of the election process. Discussions covered the nomination and scrutiny process, withdrawal of candidature, the responsibilities of candidates and political parties, and the need to ensure strict compliance with the applicable election rules.

The parties also discussed the responsibilities of government officials and other personnel involved in election management. The Commission emphasised that officials must perform their assigned duties impartially and ensure that the prescribed procedures are followed at every stage.

The discussions further highlighted the need for effective implementation of the Model Code of Conduct and the prevention of irregularities that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

However, the available account of the meeting does not identify the individual parties making each specific allegation or provide their verbatim statements.

Security arrangements for the forthcoming municipal elections received particular attention during the meeting. Political representatives stressed the importance of maintaining adequate security at polling stations and ensuring that voters could cast their ballots without fear, intimidation or obstruction.

The possible deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), in addition to the Tripura Police and other available security personnel, was discussed in the context of ensuring peaceful polling.

The State Election Commission was reported to have indicated that the question of deploying central forces would be examined in consultation with the appropriate authorities, taking into account the security requirements and prevailing circumstances.

The Commission was also expected to consult the Director General of Police and the concerned authorities regarding the availability and deployment of additional security personnel, if required.

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