Supreme Court directs simultaneous Village Committee and TTAADC elections in Tripura, marking a major victory for Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman after a decade-long delay in grassroots democratic polls in tribal areas.
Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman on Wednesday announced that the Supreme Court of India has directed the State Election Commission to conduct elections to the Village Committees (VCs) under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) simultaneously with the general elections to the District Council.
Describing the apex court’s order as a “huge victory,” Debbarman said the direction ensures that long-pending grassroots elections will finally be held after a decade. Taking to his official social media handle, he stated that the Supreme Court has instructed the State Election Commission to hold the VC elections along with the TTAADC general elections, marking a crucial moment for democratic governance in the tribal areas of the state.
The Village Committees under the TTAADC are comparable in function to Panchayats in non-tribal areas, although their governance structure differs significantly. Unlike the three-tier Panchayati Raj system followed in general areas, the VCs operate under a single-tier structure tailored to the administrative framework of the autonomous district council. The last elected Village Committees completed their tenure in 2016, and since then, elections have not been conducted.
For nearly ten years, the absence of VC elections has been a major point of contention, particularly for the Tipra Motha Party. Debbarman and other party leaders had repeatedly alleged administrative delays and irregularities, claiming that democratic processes at the grassroots level were being undermined.
The delay was initially attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted electoral schedules across the country. However, even after the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, no concrete steps were reportedly taken by the State Election Commission to initiate the electoral process for the Village Committees.
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The Supreme Court’s directive now changes the political landscape, especially as the Tipra Motha Party, which came to power in the TTAADC in 2021, approaches the completion of its five-year term. The general elections to the 28-member Tribal District Council are scheduled to be held in April this year. Conducting both elections simultaneously is expected to streamline administrative processes and reduce logistical challenges.
According to official data, there are a total of 587 Village Committees under the TTAADC. These committees play a vital role in local governance, development planning, and implementation of welfare schemes in tribal areas. The council itself comprises 28 seats, making it a key decision-making body for autonomous administration in the region.
Interestingly, the electoral procedures for the two polls differ significantly. While general elections to the TTAADC are conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the Village Committee elections are carried out through postal ballots. This dual system presents logistical complexities, but election authorities are expected to make necessary arrangements to ensure smooth and transparent conduct.
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Political observers believe that the Supreme Court’s direction reinforces constitutional accountability and underscores the importance of timely elections in autonomous and local bodies. The move is also being viewed as a major political boost for the Tipra Motha Party ahead of the upcoming council elections.
With simultaneous polls now on the horizon, attention will turn to how the State Election Commission implements the court’s directive and prepares for one of the most closely watched electoral exercises in Tripura’s tribal regions in recent years. The development has reignited discussions about democratic decentralization, electoral fairness, and the strengthening of grassroots governance in autonomous councils across India.
