Tripura VC polls have entered a crucial stage after the State Election Commission completed scrutiny of nomination papers for the September 28 Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). The Commission said 10,889 nomination papers from the 10,889 candidates were found valid, while 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been sanctioned to strengthen security across the polling areas.
Nomination process concludes without major disruption
The nomination process for the elections began on September 1 and ended on September 8. A total of 10,958 nomination papers were submitted by 10,936 candidates for the 4,597 seats spread across 587 Village Committees.
Scrutiny was conducted on September 9. Following the process, 10,889 nominations were declared valid. Candidates who wish to withdraw their candidature have until September 11 to do so. The final list of contestants will be prepared after the withdrawal deadline.
State Election Commissioner Dr PK Chakraborty said the Commission has taken steps in response to allegations raised by opposition parties concerning the nomination process. The SEC has also been monitoring sensitive areas and coordinating with the state police and other authorities to ensure the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
The nomination period had seen political tensions, with opposition parties raising allegations over difficulties in filing papers in some areas. However, the latest scrutiny figures show that a large number of candidates have successfully entered the electoral contest.
Tipra Motha leads among major parties
The nomination figures indicate a competitive contest across the TTAADC area. Tipra Motha Party has emerged as the largest political force in terms of valid nominations, with 4,361 candidates.
The CPI(M) has 2,456 valid nominations, followed by the BJP with 1,971. The Congress has 465 candidates, while the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has 483. The CPI has four candidates, while 1,149 candidates fall under the Others category.
The numbers reflect the importance of the Village Committee elections for political parties seeking to strengthen their grassroots presence in the tribal council areas. Tipra Motha’s strong candidate presence is particularly significant, given its central role in TTAADC politics.
Tripura VC polls to cover 4,597 seats
The elections will cover all 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC. The 4,597 seats include 4,025 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 178 for Scheduled Castes and 394 unreserved seats.
Women candidates will also have a significant reserved share. Among ST-reserved seats, 1,693 are reserved for women. Of the SC-reserved seats, 67 are reserved for women, while another 245 women-reserved seats fall under the unreserved category.
The elections are particularly important because the Village Committee polls are being held after a gap of nearly 10 years, following intervention by the Supreme Court. The outcome is expected to influence local governance and political equations in the autonomous council areas.
Security arrangements strengthened
Security preparations have received particular attention ahead of polling day. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved 74 companies of CAPF for election-related duties following a request from the State Election Commission through the state government.
Of the sanctioned forces, 24 companies are already in Tripura. The remaining personnel are expected to arrive from outside the state well before September 28.
The SEC is also planning police domination in sensitive areas, deployment of election observers and sector officers, and regular police patrolling wherever necessary. The measures are aimed at preventing disruptions and creating a secure environment for voters, candidates and polling personnel.
Final phase before polling
With scrutiny completed, the focus now shifts to the September 11 withdrawal deadline and preparation of the final candidate list. Political parties will also intensify their campaigns across the TTAADC areas as the September 28 polling date approaches.
Counting of votes is scheduled for October 5.
The large number of candidates, extensive geographical spread of the constituencies and deployment of central forces underline the importance of the election. With nomination scrutiny largely completed and security arrangements being strengthened, the authorities are now preparing for the final stages of a closely watched local electoral contest in Tripura.
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