Agartala, Nov 24: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started its preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Tripura which is due in early next year.

A six member ECI team- Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma, Director (IT) Ashok Kumar, Director (Expenditure) Yashbendra Singh, Secretary (Planning) Sanjib Kumar Prasad, Secretary (NES) Santosh Kumar Dubey and Vijoy Kumar (Section Officer) visited Tripura on November 22 and 23.
 
The ECI officials held a preparatory meeting with Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte, District Electoral Officers and district police chiefs, according to a government press release.

In the meeting, discussions were held on electoral rolls, special summary revision, EVM/ VVPAT, arrangements in polling stations, polling personnel, law and order, security and training among other important issues.
 
The ECI officials, according to the press release, passed an instruction to the District Magistrates and district police chiefs (SPs) to gear up the poll preparations.
 
The Election Commission officials also held a meeting with the representatives of the Income Tax, Excise, Reserve Bank of India, Revenue department (customs division), BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, Narcotics Control Bureau, CASO/ CISF, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Postal department, Central GST, State GST, MLBC, Airport Authority and Enforcement Directorate.
 
In the meeting, they held discussions to increase watch on suspicious expenditure, transportation of goods and payment of wages.
 
On Wednesday, the ECI delegation held a meeting with the officials of Revenue, Education, Police, Power, PWD/ DWS, Social Welfare, Urban Development, Health, Transport and Rural Development departments. Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan were present in the meeting.