Tripura Unveils Schedule for 2024 Panchayat Polls

The State Election Commission of Tripura has announced the 2024 Panchayat elections schedule. Set to begin on July 11, the polls will cover various Panchayat tiers, with voting on August 8 and results by August 17. The commission emphasizes strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct.

The State Election Commission of Tripura has officially released the schedule for the 2024 General Elections to the Panchayats. The existing Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) will see their term end on August 4, 2024, necessitating the creation of new PRI bodies ahead of this deadline. Elections will cover multiple Panchayat tiers, including Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads. In total, 606 Gram Panchayats, 35 constituencies, and 8 sub-constituencies will be contested, with 6,370 seats up for election. Additionally, 423 Panchayat Samiti seats and 116 Zilla Parishad seats are also to be contested.

District Magistrates and Collectors in Tripura's eight districts have been appointed as District Election Officers to oversee and coordinate the election proceedings. Furthermore, Block Development Officers of 35 blocks have been tasked as Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers. According to the electoral rolls, there are 1,294,153 registered voters, consisting of 658,445 male voters, 635,697 female voters, and 11 others. A total of 2,650 polling stations have been established across all districts for this election.

Nominations will be open from July 11, 2024, to July 18, 2024. Scrutiny of nominations will follow on July 19, 2024, with the last date for candidacy withdrawal set for July 22, 2024. If necessary, voting will take place on August 8, 2024, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with vote counting starting on August 12, 2024. The entire election process is anticipated to conclude by August 17, 2024. To ensure a fair and peaceful election, voter identification will be strictly enforced using Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), with alternative IDs permissible to ensure no voter is disenfranchised.

The State Election Commission stresses the adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, now in effect, to guarantee impartial elections. Preparatory meetings with political parties and law enforcement agencies have taken place, focusing on security and law and order. The Commission seeks the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the media, for a smooth and transparent election process.