ECI asks Tripura govt to stop development works

Agartala, Jan 18 (UNI) Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Tripura government to stop wooing the voters by undertaking large number of construction and renovation works, officials said here today.

During a meeting with state administration here yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami asked Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash to stop implementation of developmental works and beneficiary selection under any scheme excepting the regular benefits offered to certain section of the people.

Mr Gopalaswami along with Election Commissioners Y S Qureshi and Navin Chawla had taken the decision following the Opposition Congress' allegations that the government had of late undertaken a lot of construction and renovation works to influence the voters ahead of poll.

It also alleged that the Left Front government had undertaken selection of new beneficiaries under several schemes.

The state government had taken up construction of drains and renovation of city roads on war-footing only after announcement of the poll-schedule, Opposition leader in the Assembly Ratan Lal Nath said adding that the Left Front was trying to woo the electorates.

Meanwhile, the ECI team had reviewed the poll preparations and security related matter in Agartala on Thursday and said some special arrangements were already chalked to ensure free and fair elections.

''Modified version of electronic voting machine have been introduced to record time and purpose. Whereas, identity of the polling station will be concealed to contain post poll intimidation and violence,'' the ECI team underlined.

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