Tripura accused the BJP-led government of delaying Village Committee elections for nearly a decade, alleging polls were held only after court intervention, while urging voters in Sabroom areas to support Left Front candidates for rural development.
Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury has accused the BJP-led state government of delaying Village Committee (VC) elections for nearly a decade, alleging that the polls were finally scheduled following judicial intervention.
Chaudhury made the remarks while addressing separate meetings organised in support of Left Front candidates in the East Sabroom and Ratan Muni Village Council areas of Sabroom subdivision. The meetings were attended by Left Front leaders, candidates, workers and supporters as political parties intensified campaigning ahead of the forthcoming elections.
According to Chaudhury, the prolonged absence of elected Village Committees deprived people in rural and tribal areas of an opportunity to participate in grassroots democratic governance. He criticised the ruling BJP over the delay and questioned the circumstances under which the elections are now being conducted.
“Literally, the BJP has no right to seek votes,” Chaudhury said while targeting the ruling party over the issue.
He alleged that the government had been compelled to move forward with the elections after court intervention. The Supreme Court has directed the Tripura State Election Commission to conduct the long-pending Village Committee elections in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). The elections are scheduled to take place in September 2026 after the Village Committee polls remained pending for years.
The delay has a longer history. Court records show that the last Village Committee elections were held in 2016, while the tenure of the elected committees subsequently expired. In earlier proceedings, authorities cited various reasons for delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the time required for electoral preparations.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in 2026 followed proceedings concerning the long-pending elections. The court directed the State Election Commission to complete the electoral process, bringing the issue of grassroots representation back into focus.
During his meetings in Sabroom, Chaudhury also highlighted issues concerning rural communities and said greater attention should be given to the interests and development needs of people living in village areas. He appealed to voters to support Left Front candidates in the upcoming elections, linking their victory with rural development and the interests of ordinary residents.
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The Village Committee elections have become an important political issue in Tripura’s tribal areas, with the BJP, CPI(M), Tipra Motha and other political groups campaigning across constituencies. Recent reports said the elections are scheduled across 587 Village Committees, covering thousands of seats, following the long gap since the previous polls.
Chaudhury’s latest remarks add to the ongoing political debate over the delay in Village Committee elections, as parties seek voter support ahead of the scheduled polling.
