Agartala, Feb 10 (IANS / TIWN) Postal ballotting for the February 18 Tripura Assembly elections by the polling staff and security personnel began on Saturday and will continue till the middle of next week, an official said.

Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said around 50,000 polling and security personnel, engaged for the February 18 elections, began their voting from Saturday through postal ballots.

"The polling and security personnel would cast their vote in the offices of 41 returning officers throughout the state. The process of postal vote would continue till February 14.

Drivers of the vehicles, to be used in the assembly elections, and micro-observers would also cast their votes through postal ballots," the CEO told the media.

He said one third of the 3,214 polling stations set up across the state are categorised as "sensitive" and additional security measures would be taken for them.