Agartala, September 9:
The race for Tripura’s Village Committee elections entered a decisive stage on Wednesday with the scrutiny of nomination papers, as 10,936 candidates remained in the fray for 4,597 seats across the tribal council areas.
The election has already generated considerable political activity, with opposition parties alleging intimidation of candidates and sporadic incidents of violence reported from parts of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
State Election Commission Secretary Anurag Sen said scrutiny of the nominations had begun and the final list of candidates would be determined after the withdrawal process ends on September 11.
Among the political parties, Tipra Motha has fielded the largest number of candidates at 4,371, followed by the CPI(M) with 2,484 and the BJP with 1,974. The IPFT has submitted 486 nominations, Congress 466 and the CPI four.
Candidates contesting independently or under smaller and unrecognised political organisations account for another 1,151 nominations.
The SEC figures also point to the possibility of a large number of uncontested or lightly contested seats. A single nomination has been received for 1,169 seats, with Tipra Motha accounting for a significant number of them.
Three seats, meanwhile, have not received any nomination from a political party. Two are located in Mungiakami RD Block and one in Hezamara RD Block.
The election authorities have made it clear that a single nominee cannot be declared elected immediately. The statutory scrutiny and withdrawal process must first be completed before any candidate can be declared elected unopposed.
Sen said the SEC had not received any specific complaint concerning the filing of nomination papers. He maintained that the nomination process was conducted fairly, while complaints linked to incidents outside the formal process had been forwarded to the police for legal action.
The commission’s statement follows allegations by opposition parties that their candidates faced obstruction and intimidation in certain TTAADC areas during the nomination process.
The political situation became more sensitive after an alleged attack on IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma in Hezamara on Tuesday.
According to IPFT leaders, Debbarma was allegedly assaulted by supporters of Tipra Motha and his vehicle was vandalised. He was subsequently taken to GBP Hospital for treatment.
IPFT Minister Sukla Charan Noatia condemned the alleged attack and urged political workers to exercise restraint, stressing the importance of preserving a peaceful and democratic electoral environment.
The incident has particular significance as IPFT and Tipra Motha are both constituents of the ruling alliance, even though differences between the two parties have become increasingly visible.
Security preparations are also being stepped up ahead of polling. The SEC has sought additional central forces to maintain law and order and facilitate peaceful voting.
Sen said 24 companies of central forces had initially been confirmed, while more forces were subsequently sanctioned. Additional deployment is expected following communication with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Village Committee elections are being held after nearly 10 years, following a Supreme Court judgment in a case filed by Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma.
The polls will cover 587 Village Committees, 2,634 constituencies and 4,597 seats across the TTAADC region. Voting is scheduled for September 28, followed by counting on October 5.
With the scrutiny and withdrawal stages still underway, the final number of contests remains uncertain. The completion of the nomination process will now pave the way for full-fledged campaigning, while the SEC and law-enforcement agencies will have to ensure a secure and peaceful atmosphere ahead of polling.
