Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tipra Motha Party supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Tuesday announced that elections to the Village Committees (VCs) under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which have remained pending for nearly ten years, are likely to be held in September this year.
Debbarma stated that the Tripura State Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court through an affidavit that it is prepared to conduct the long-awaited elections in September.
Sharing the development through a social media post, Debbarma described the decision as a significant victory for the people of the state and the restoration of their democratic rights.
“After years of legal struggle, I am glad to say that the State Election Commission has agreed to hold elections in September this year. They have mentioned it in their affidavit to the Supreme Court. This is a huge relief and victory for the people of our state. Our rights have been restored by the efforts of the people,” he wrote.
In an audio message addressed to party leaders and workers, Debbarman said the Supreme Court hearing had made it clear that the election process would be completed within the next two months.
“After ten years of waiting, the Village Committee elections will be held in September,” he said, urging party members to work collectively for the welfare of villages and the future of the indigenous Tiprasa community.
As per the proposed schedule submitted before the apex court, the election process is expected to begin with the issuance of notification and filing of nominations between September 1 and September 8. Scrutiny of nomination papers and withdrawal of candidature are tentatively scheduled from September 9 to September 11.
Campaigning is proposed to take place from September 12 to September 26, while polling is scheduled for September 27. In case of any repoll, it is expected to be conducted on October 1. Counting of votes is likely to be held on October 3, with the entire election process proposed to conclude by October 5.
The Village Committee elections have remained stalled for several years, resulting in prolonged legal proceedings before the Supreme Court.
According to official records, elections will be conducted for 2,600 seats across 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC. Polling is expected to take place at around 1,550 polling stations.
Village Committees function as grassroots rural local bodies within the TTAADC areas and perform a role similar to that of panchayats in non-tribal regions of the state.