By IANS,
Agartala : The civic polls in Tripura, with half the seats reserved for women, would be held Dec 11, it was officially announced here Monday.
According to officials, Tripura is the first state in India where elections to urban civic agencies would be held with 50 percent of seats reserved for women.
“Electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used to conduct the polls to the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) and 15 nagar panchayats (urban councils) on Dec 11,” state Election Commissioner Y.P. Singh told reporters.
A total of 434,512 voters, including 215,412 women, are eligible to elect 230 councillors across the state.
Singh said the statutory notification by the state election commission would be issued Tuesday. The last date for filling nominations is Nov 23.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front, which is in power in the state, controls the AMC and the 15 civic agencies.
The Tripura government in March this year amended the Tripura Municipal Act, enhancing reservation for women in urban local agencies from 33 percent to 50 percent.
Tripura is the fifth state in India after Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh to provide for 50 percent reservation for women in local urban and rural agencies.
Meanwhile, the Left Front Monday announced its candidates for the civic polls.
Tripura Congress president Surajit Datta said his party would announce its candidates within a week.