Tripura VC polls counting shows BJP-Tipra Motha alliance leading with Tipra Motha winning 3,030 seats and BJP 603, while violence and clashes were reported in several districts. Counting continues amid tight security after 81.21% voter turnout in the Village Committee elections.
The BJP-Tipra Motha alliance maintained a strong position during the counting of votes for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections on Monday, with results declared for 3,845 seats so far. However, the counting process was overshadowed by incidents of violence, road blockades, clashes and allegations of intimidation in several parts of the state.
According to the latest figures, Tipra Motha emerged as the leading party with 3,030 seats, while the BJP secured 603 seats. Independent candidates won 124 seats, followed by the CPI(M) with 53 seats, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) with 20 and the Congress with 10 seats. Three seats were reportedly vacant.
The counting process began at 8 am across 45 venues, with 44 counting halls arranged for the exercise. Around 2,000 personnel were deployed to oversee the counting process. A senior State Election Commission official said counting could continue until Tuesday morning at centres where a larger number of Village Committees were being counted. At several other centres, however, the process was expected to conclude by Monday evening.
While counting proceeded peacefully at a number of locations, tension and violence were reported from parts of Sepahijala and Dhalai districts. In Khowai, security personnel resorted to a lathi-charge following a confrontation outside a designated counting centre.
In Kathalia block of Sepahijala district, tension was reported at Poly Bari Class XII English Medium School, where votes for five ADC-based Village Committees were being counted. Local inputs said supporters of Tipra Motha had blocked roads leading towards the centre and allegedly prevented supporters of other political parties from reaching the premises.
The situation prompted leaders of several political parties to stage a protest outside Jatrapur police station. Sepahijala Superintendent of Police Bijoy Debbarma was also present in Jatrapur as the situation remained tense.
A separate incident was reported from Salema block, where CPI(M) workers and supporters staged a road blockade at Maharani. The protesters alleged that their counting agents were prevented from entering the Maharani High School counting centre. The CPI(M) also alleged that identification cards belonging to its counting agents were snatched.
In Khowai district, police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel used a lathi-charge outside Bharat Sardar Vidyalaya, the designated counting centre under Tulashikhar Rural Development Block. According to local sources, a group allegedly attempted to remove security barricades and move towards the counting premises. Around 10 to 12 people, including women, were reportedly injured and taken to Khowai district hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, counting at Mandai RD Block in West Tripura district was conducted under heavy security arrangements. Votes for 57 seats across 15 Village Committees were being counted with state police and central forces deployed at the venue.
In Mungiakami RD Block, the counting process remained peaceful. In results declared from six seats where BJP and Tipra Motha candidates contested directly against each other, Tipra Motha won four seats while BJP-backed candidates secured two.
TTAADC MDC and Tipra Motha leader Utpal Debbarma said the polling and counting process in Mungiakami had remained peaceful. He called for political parties and their supporters to maintain peace and focus on development in the tribal areas.
Tribal Welfare Minister and BJP MLA Bikash Debbarma also described the counting process as peaceful in his area and referred to contests between BJP and Tipra Motha candidates as a “friendly fight”.
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The Village Committee elections were held on September 28 after a gap of 10 years, witnessing a high voter turnout of 81.21 per cent. Following complaints and election-related issues, the State Election Commission ordered repolling at three polling stations covering two Village Committees on October 3.
The latest results indicate a strong performance by Tipra Motha, while the BJP has also secured a significant number of seats. The alliance’s lead has emerged as a major feature of the Village Committee election results.
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With counting still underway at several centres, the final outcome is expected to provide a clearer picture of the political balance in the TTAADC areas. Authorities have maintained enhanced security arrangements at counting centres to prevent further incidents and ensure completion of the counting process.
