Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma appeals for peace during and after Tripura TTAADC Village Committee election counting, urging Tiprasa people to accept results democratically and avoid violence, clashes and personal confrontations among supporters of rival political parties.
Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Sunday appealed to his followers and the people of Tripura’s indigenous communities to maintain peace during and after the counting of votes for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections.
The counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 8 am on Monday, following the Village Committee elections held after a gap of nearly 10 years. In a social media livestream, Debbarma urged Tiprasa people and supporters of different political parties to refrain from violence, clashes and confrontations over the election results.
Debbarma said victory and defeat are an integral part of the democratic process and urged people to accept the electoral verdict peacefully. He appealed to his followers not to engage in what he described as “marpeet” in villages during or after the counting process.
“After a wait of 10 years, the elections to the Village Committees were held and counting is scheduled to take place on Monday. I appeal to all Tiprasa people not to indulge in ‘marpeet’ in the villages during or after counting,” he said.
The Tipra Motha founder also called upon supporters of rival political parties to respect the outcome of the elections and avoid turning political differences into personal disputes. He stressed that while one side would emerge victorious, another would have to accept defeat as part of the democratic system.
“In an election, one side will win while another side will face defeat. This is universal,” Debbarma said, warning that attacks on defeated candidates and their supporters would ultimately harm the interests of the Tiprasa community.
His appeal for peace comes against the backdrop of tensions reported during the election process. On September 28, a Tipra Motha candidate was shot at Warenbari in Gomati district, leading to tension in the area. Two suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.
Debbarma questioned the rationale behind clashes among Tiprasa people based on their political affiliations. He said internal confrontation could weaken the community at a time when it was pursuing broader political and constitutional issues concerning the indigenous population of Tripura.
According to Debbarma, political differences should not be allowed to create divisions among members of the same community. He emphasised that electoral competition should remain within the democratic framework and should not result in violence or hostility at the village level.
Debbarma also referred to his legal efforts concerning the Village Committee elections, stating that he had pursued the matter in the Supreme Court in the interests of the Tiprasa people rather than for the benefit of any particular political organisation.
He said the struggle surrounding the elections had also helped bring issues concerning Tripura’s indigenous population into the wider political discourse in the Northeast.
The Tipra Motha founder further warned that internal divisions and clashes could undermine the community’s broader interests. He urged people to remain united irrespective of the election results and to respect the democratic mandate.
“If we fight among ourselves now, people will mock us,” he said, calling for restraint and peaceful acceptance of the electoral outcome.
| Also Read: Tripura draft civic rolls show higher women voter numbers |
With counting scheduled to begin on Monday morning, Debbarma’s appeal comes as political parties and candidates await the results of the long-awaited Village Committee elections. His message focused on maintaining peace, preventing post-poll violence and ensuring that political differences do not lead to personal or community-level confrontations.
