Agartala, February 11: The Supreme Court of India has directed the Tripura State Election Commission and the state government to conduct the long-pending Village Committee (VC) elections simultaneously with the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls.
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| The Supreme Court of India directed simultaneous VC and TTAADC elections in Tripura. |
The apex court also instructed authorities to ensure that elections to the TTAADC are held before the Council’s term ends on April 18, 2026. Additionally, the court has asked the State Election Commission to file an affidavit specifying the date for the Village Committee elections, which are to be conducted alongside the TTAADC polls.
The five-year term of the elected Village Committees expired on March 7, 2021, and no fresh elections have been held since. The directive effectively restores VC-level polls after nearly a decade, marking a significant step toward reviving grassroots democratic institutions in the tribal areas of Tripura.
The development follows a petition filed by the Tipra Motha Party in October 2025 over the delay in conducting VC elections. Reacting to the order, former Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma described the court’s direction as a major boost for grassroots democracy and local self-governance in the Sixth Schedule areas of the state.
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He stated that holding both elections together would strengthen democratic structures at the village level, ensure broader participation, and enhance accountability in governance. Observers believe the simultaneous polls will streamline the electoral process while reinforcing representative institutions across Tripura’s tribal regions.
The court’s directive is expected to pave the way for the restoration of elected village-level bodies and renewed local representation in the TTAADC-administered areas.
