Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has urged voters to exercise their franchise freely and peacefully as polling takes place in the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The elections are being held on Monday, September 28, across the tribal areas of Tripura. Authorities have made extensive security arrangements to ensure that voters can participate in the electoral process without fear or disruption.
The polls are the first Village Committee elections in the TTAADC areas in around a decade, making the exercise significant for grassroots governance in the state.
Polling Underway Across TTAADC Areas
Voting is taking place across 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC. The State Election Commission had initially notified elections for 4,597 seats across 2,634 constituencies.
Following the withdrawal of nominations, several seats were decided without a contest. Polling is being held for the remaining seats where candidates are contesting. According to the latest reports, around 6.65 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the contested seats.
Polling is being conducted through ballot papers, with voting scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm.
CM Appeals for Peaceful Voting
Saha’s appeal comes as voters head to polling stations across the TTAADC areas.
The Chief Minister has urged people to participate in the democratic process while maintaining peace. The appeal follows preparations by the State Election Commission and security agencies to ensure orderly polling.
The Commission has also appealed to voters to participate without fear and cast their votes peacefully.
Authorities have put arrangements in place at polling stations to facilitate voting and maintain law and order throughout the process.
Heavy Security Deployment
Security has been significantly strengthened for the Village Committee elections.
According to officials, more than 15,000 central and state security personnel have been deployed across Tripura’s tribal areas. The deployment is intended to secure polling stations and sensitive locations while ensuring the smooth conduct of voting.
The State Election Commission had earlier confirmed the deployment of 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) along with Tripura Police and Tripura State Rifles.
Security officials have also carried out area-domination exercises and reviewed arrangements in districts ahead of polling.
Election Commission Reviews Poll Preparedness
The Tripura State Election Commission has been conducting regular reviews of election preparations.
Officials have focused on security, polling personnel, transportation and facilities at polling stations. Election observers have also been appointed to monitor the process and report on compliance with electoral rules.
The Commission has directed officials to provide basic facilities, including drinking water and electricity, at polling stations.
These preparations are particularly important for polling stations located in remote and mountainous areas.
Campaigning Ends Before Polling
Campaigning for the Village Committee elections ended at 4 pm on September 26.
Officials subsequently shifted their focus to the movement of polling teams and final security arrangements. Polling parties assigned to remote areas were dispatched ahead of voting day.
The completion of campaigning also marked the beginning of the period during which political parties and candidates are restricted from campaigning and attempting to influence voters.
Political Parties Contest Village Committee Polls
Several political parties are participating in the Village Committee elections.
The BJP, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) have been working together as alliance partners for the polls. Saha had earlier said that the three parties would contest the elections together, although candidates from alliance partners are also facing one another in some constituencies.
Opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and Congress, have also fielded candidates and raised concerns about the electoral environment.
The Congress has alleged that opposition candidates faced obstruction in some places. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Left Front Raises Security Concerns
The Left Front had earlier approached the State Election Commission seeking additional security measures.
The alliance alleged that some of its candidates and workers had faced threats and obstruction during the election process. It called for adequate deployment of central forces to ensure free and peaceful voting.
The State Election Commission subsequently announced extensive security arrangements across the polling areas.
Village Committees Important for Grassroots Governance
The Village Committees operate within the administrative framework of the TTAADC and play an important role in local governance in the state’s tribal areas.
The previous Village Committee elections were held in 2016. The committees’ five-year terms ended in 2021, but elections were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent legal issues.
The current election therefore marks the return of elected Village Committee institutions after a prolonged gap.
Counting Scheduled for October 5
After polling concludes, votes will be counted on October 5.
The State Election Commission has also kept October 3 as the date for repolling, if required. The entire election process is scheduled to conclude by October 8.
Until then, authorities will continue monitoring the polling process and addressing any complaints or issues reported from polling areas.
Focus on Free and Peaceful Polling
With voting now underway, the administration and State Election Commission are focusing on maintaining order and ensuring that eligible voters can exercise their franchise.
Saha’s appeal for peaceful voting comes alongside the Commission’s own call for voters to participate without fear. Heavy deployment of security personnel and monitoring by election officials are intended to support the conduct of the polls.
The outcome of the Village Committee elections will be known after counting on October 5, while Monday’s polling will determine the representatives for the contested seats across Tripura’s TTAADC areas.