With the Tripura Village Committee elections 2026 approaching, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has urged the Election Commission to amend provisions governing elections in the TTAADC while seeking clarity on the ongoing electoral roll revision as part of the SIR. The party has also demanded that specific provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, should not apply to the Sixth Schedule areas.
Quick Glance
- IPFT submits memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Party opposes application of Section 2(6B)(4) of the CAA in TTAADC areas.
- Memorandum seeks clarity on citizenship and ordinary residence criteria for voters.
- IPFT renews demand to amend Village Committee reservation provisions.
- Party says it is fully prepared to contest the upcoming elections.
- Supreme Court has fixed September 27 for the Village Committee polls.
Agartala, August 07: Political activity ahead of the Tripura Village Committee elections 2026 has gathered momentum. The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), an ally of ruling BJP, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on August 6.
The party has sought legal changes governing elections in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and expressed concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The memorandum comes at a crucial time as preparations continue for the long-awaited Village Committee elections in the tribal autonomous district.
IPFT Questions Electoral Roll Revision in TTAADC
The IPFT has urged the Election Commission to keep the Sixth Schedule areas under the TTAADC outside the ambit of Section 2(6B)(4) of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The party has also sought clarity on how officials will determine Indian citizenship and ordinary residence during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. According to the memorandum, clear guidelines are necessary to ensure transparency and prevent confusion among voters in the autonomous district.
The party believes that the constitutional safeguards available to the Sixth Schedule areas should be fully protected during the electoral revision exercise.
Party Renews Demand for Changes in Village Committee Law
Addressing the media, IPFT General Secretary Swapan Debbarma said the party is fully prepared to contest the Village Committee elections. However, he maintained that amendments to the existing legal framework remain essential.
He said the IPFT has consistently demanded changes in the provisions governing elections in the ADC areas and reiterated that the issue has been raised with the authorities on several occasions.
According to Debbarma, the party’s demand is aimed at ensuring that the election process reflects the spirit of the original law governing the autonomous district.
Reservation Issue Remains a Key Concern
A major issue raised by the IPFT is the reservation of 13 Village Committee chairperson posts for Scheduled Castes (SCs).
Debbarma argued that the parent legislation governing the TTAADC does not provide for such reservation of chairperson posts. He said those positions should instead remain unreserved.
The party has proposed that the relevant legal provisions be amended before the elections are conducted so that the chairperson posts are notified as unreserved rather than SC-reserved.
According to the IPFT, such a revision would align the electoral framework with the original provisions of the autonomous district law.
IPFT Says It Is Election-Ready
Despite pressing for legislative reforms, the IPFT made it clear that it is not seeking a postponement of the polls.
Debbarma said the party has always remained ready to participate in every election, including the Village Committee polls.
He added that the IPFT would contest the elections even if its proposed amendments are not accepted before polling. At the same time, the party will continue to pursue its demands through constitutional and democratic means.
The statement signals that the regional party intends to combine electoral participation with its campaign for legal reforms in the governance structure of the TTAADC.
Why the Village Committee Elections Matter
Village Committees form the grassroots tier of governance within the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. Elections to these bodies are closely watched because they shape local administration and influence the political balance in the tribal autonomous region.
The upcoming polls have therefore become politically significant for both regional and national parties, especially after years of delay.
Looking Back: SC Fixed Sep 27 Poll Date
The Village Committee elections were pending for several years before the matter reached the Supreme Court.
According to The Hindu, the Supreme Court on June 16, 2026, directed the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct the long-pending Village Committee elections under the TTAADC in a single phase on September 27, 2026. The Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi also made it clear that no further extension of the election schedule would be granted after the State Election Commission informed the court that it was ready to complete the entire electoral exercise in one phase.
The court’s order has since accelerated election preparations across the TTAADC. Political parties have intensified their campaigns while simultaneously raising legal and administrative issues that they believe should be addressed before polling begins.
