Agartala, September 22: Preparations for the ADC Village Committee elections are progressing in Mandai RD Block, where polling personnel and security forces cast their votes in advance on Monday. The special voting session was held from 10 am to 4 pm, with another round scheduled for Tuesday.
Mandai Block BDO and Returning Officer said 53 ballots had been arranged for election-duty personnel. These included 40 votes for police and TSR personnel and 13 for polling officials and other staff deployed for election duties. Around 20 voters were reportedly waiting outside the polling station by noon.
A notable aspect of Monday’s exercise was that the polling station was operated entirely by women officials and staff. Authorities said the process remained peaceful and orderly, with voters and election personnel extending full cooperation.
Giving details of the election scenario in the block, the Returning Officer said 332 nomination papers had been filed, of which two were rejected, leaving 330 valid nominations. Of these, 141 candidates have already been elected unopposed, while 125 candidates are still contesting.
Polling in the Mandai block will be held on September 28 across 27 polling stations covering 57 seats. The candidates in the contest include eight from the BJP, 40 from the CPI(M), 55 from Tipra Motha, one from the IPFT and 21 independents.
The Returning Officer said all arrangements had been put in place for the advance voting process as well as the September 28 election. Monday’s voting concluded peacefully, while similar arrangements are in place for Tuesday’s session and the main polling day.
