Agartala, Sep 1: Political activities have intensified in Tripura a day after the State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule for elections to Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), with the ruling BJP and opposition CPI(M) stepping up preparations for the crucial local polls.
Elections to 4,597 seats across 2,634 constituencies in 587 Village Committees will be held on September 28, marking the first such polls in the TTAADC areas in 10 years. The Village Committees are equivalent to Gram Panchayats in areas outside the autonomous council.
The BJP has begun extensive organisational preparations, with four senior central leaders arriving in Agartala on Tuesday. BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, Northeast Co-Coordinator Rajiv Babbar and observer Rajdeep Roy held meetings with state leaders to discuss election strategy and organisational preparedness.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, state BJP president Abhishek Debroy and other senior leaders participated in the meetings.
The CPI(M), meanwhile, has also launched preparations across various districts. Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury welcomed the announcement and said his party was ready to contest the elections.
The Congress has also conducted a series of meetings as part of its preparations for the Village Committee polls.
The SEC on Tuesday issued statutory notifications for the elections. State Election Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty said September 8 would be the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny will take place on September 9, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until September 11. Counting of votes will be held on October 5.
Security arrangements are also being strengthened. State DGP G.S. Rao said adequate measures were being put in place to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.
Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma said the elections were being conducted in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court. He claimed the apex court had directed the SEC to hold the long-pending polls following his petition.
The TMP has governed the TTAADC since 2021. In the April 12, 2026 council elections, the party won 24 of the 28 elected seats, while the BJP secured four.
The TTAADC covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s geographical area and has a population of over 12.16 lakh, around 84 per cent of whom belong to indigenous tribal communities. The council is regarded as one of the state’s most significant political and constitutional institutions.
