The Supreme Court is expected to hear the long‐pending plea regarding pending VC polls Tripura later this month, Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma announced. The petition challenges the failure to hold elections to the Village Committees (VCs) under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), a delay that has left grassroots governance in tribal areas in limbo.
Pradyot revealed that during a hearing at the apex court, the Chief Justice had accepted their mention and indicated that the VC elections case would be listed on October 27 or 28. He called the prolonged deferment “one of the longest delays in India’s democratic history.”
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What’s the issue behind pending VC polls Tripura?
Elections to 587 village committees under the ADC were due in March 2021. They were postponed, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the intervening years, no fresh poll schedule has been finalized — creating a void in local representation. The absence of elected village bodies means tribal communities have lacked voice in local administration.
Earlier, the Tripura High Court had directed the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state to conduct the VC polls by November 2022, but that order was never implemented. As time passed, TMP (Tipra Motha Party) escalated the matter by moving the Supreme Court, alleging that the poll machinery has been deliberately stunted to stifle tribal self-rule.
In August, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Tripura SEC, and the state government demanding explanation for the delay in conducting these elections. The apex court gave them a time frame to respond.
Pradyot’s stance: demand for accountability and urgency
Pradyot has repeatedly voiced his frustration at what he calls systemic neglect. He criticized the authorities for using administrative excuses while leaving tribal populations without elected local bodies. He said that the delay is not just procedural but symptomatic of a larger attempt to suppress tribal democratic participation.
He warned that further delays will fuel discontent, particularly among young tribal voters, who may see it as a breach of constitutional promise. By pushing the case to the Supreme Court, Pradyot positioned TMP as the torchbearer of local governance rights in Tripura’s autonomous districts.
Legal, administrative, and political hurdles
Several challenges have impeded the path toward holding the VC polls:
- Revision of electoral rolls: Since the last polls in 2016, thousands of new voters have become eligible. The voter list needs updating before polls can be held.
- Logistical and security constraints: Authorities have cited technical, administrative and law-and-order issues as roadblocks to polling in remote tribal areas.
- Lack of political will: TMP contends that the state government has shown reluctance to empower local bodies in tribal regions, fearing loss of control.
- Overdue constitutional weight: Without elected village committees, the democratic structure under the Sixth Schedule weakens, as local representation remains suspended.
Possible consequences of SC’s hearing and its outcome
If the Supreme Court takes the case up in late October, it would mark a critical turning point. A directive from the apex court would compel the ECI, SEC and Tripura state to set a date and roadmap for conducting VC polls.
For TMP, a favourable outcome would bolster its credibility among tribal communities. It would signal that invoking the judiciary is a necessary recourse when executive action stalls. Should the court reject or dilute the plea, TMP may intensify its political protest, possibly reconsidering its alliance positions in the state government.
The state government, on its part, will come under pressure to respond with timelines, not excuses. Delaying further could invite judicial displeasure and political backlash alike.
Significance for tribal democracy in Tripura
The pending VC polls Tripura case isn’t just about elections — it’s about restoring democratic rights at the lowest level in tribal areas. Village committees act like grassroots administrative units; without them, tribal people lack formal, local representation to address development, resource management, and civic issues.
The case also reflects the broader narrative of autonomy, constitutional safeguards, and the balance of power between tribal institutions and state control. TMP’s push is a reminder that promises of self-governance must be backed by action — not token gestures.
If the Supreme Court hearing this month results in a firm order, it could break the administrative stalemate and set in motion the democratic course long delayed in Tripura’s tribal belt. With pending VC polls Tripura now in the hands of the judiciary, all eyes will be on how responsive the government proves to be.
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