Page 270 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

16, 2023. There were 259 candidates in the fray, after 32
During the legislative assembly elections in Gujarat and persons withdrew their nominations. The polling was
Himachal Pradesh and accompanying bye-polls in
conducted in 3,337 polling stations. They included Model
several states, Election Commission of India further Polling Stations, PwD managed and women managed
streamlined its policy on publishing/telecasting of
polling stations that had been set up to boost the electors'
opinion/exit polls in print and electronic media that
confidence. Of the nearly 8000 electors who had filled
had been last updated in 2017. In a communication to
Form 12 D to vote from home by postal ballot under
all print and electronic media institutions dated
November 15, 2022 the Election Commission ‘Absentee Voters’ category, 7788 actually cast their votes.
instructed them not to publish They included 6226 senior citizens in 80+ age group, 1222
PwDs and 488 essential services personnel.
a) any article or programme related to dissemination of
results and
b) prediction of results in any form or manner by the way
of predictions by Astrologers, Tarot Readers, Political
In these elections to Tripura Legislative Assembly, Reang
Analysts or by any person during the prohibited
period between 8 AM on November 12, 2022 and (or Bru) migrants from neighbouring Mizoram voted for
5.30 PM on December 5, 2022. the first time. is enfranchisement followed the signing
e prohibition of publicizing exit poll/predictions ended of historic quadripartite agreement in New Delhi on
with the closing of the last phase of elections/bye-polls. January 16, 2020 involving Government of India, state
governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and
representatives of Reang/Bru community thus bringing
close to a third (31.8 percent) of the state's population.
to close a two decade long problem of internal
Thus, in Meghalaya 55 out of 60, and in Nagaland 59 out
displacement. Under the new agreement, around 34,000
of 60 were seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes
internally displaced Reang people were legally resettled
candidates. In Tripura, out of 60 seats 10 were reserved
into Tripura. As per reply to unstarred question
for Scheduled Caste candidates, and 20 were reserved for
candidates of Scheduled Tribes community. (No.3745) in Rajya Sabha on August 13, 2014 , due to
ethnic tension between Reang tribesmen and Mizo,
These states had a record of high voting in previous about 30,000 Reang/Bru families from western Mizoram
elections. The Annual Report of Ministry of Home Affairs
2021-22 (P.18) shows that there is significant decline in out-migrated from October, 1997 onwards. ey were
sheltered in six relief camps in Kanchanpur district of
violence and civilian casualties in the north-eastern states
since 2014 whereas there has been surge in the number north Tripura. At present, they are settled in 12 locations
of extremists surrendering in the last few years. Whereas across four districts of the state. Around 14,000 Reang
Tripura remained largely peaceful, the scourge of voters from 5,645 rehabilitated families were enrolled in
insurgency has been curbed in Meghalaya and Nagaland. Tripura's electoral rolls. ey queued up in front of
polling booths with their EPIC and resettlement papers.
There was single phased polling in each of the three
states. Tripura was the first to go to the polls on February

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