Leader of Opposition and CPIM Tripura State Secretary Jitendra Choudhury used a five-party Left meeting in Shantir Bazar to renew the demand for stronger constitutional safeguards for the tribal areas, including action on the long-pending 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Key Takeaways:
- Jitendra Choudhury renewed the demand to advance the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
- The proposed legislation seeks changes to the Sixth Schedule and the financial framework for tribal councils.
- The issue has renewed focus on the powers, resources and functioning of Tripura’s autonomous council.
Leader of Opposition and CPIM Tripura State Secretary Jitendra Choudhury has renewed the demand for stronger constitutional powers for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. He linked the issue to the long-pending Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Choudhury raised the issue while addressing a five-party Left meeting at Shantir Bazar. The meeting focused on the upcoming local elections and the political situation in the tribal areas.
He said the constitutional framework governing autonomous councils needs greater attention. He also argued that the ADC requires adequate powers and resources to carry out its responsibilities.
The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in February 2019. It seeks changes to provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule, which governs the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
What the 125th Amendment Bill proposes
The proposed legislation covers several aspects of governance in Sixth Schedule areas.
One major provision concerns the creation of Village and Municipal Councils in addition to the existing District and Regional Councils. The Bill also proposes a role for the Finance Commission in recommending measures to strengthen the financial position of District, Village and Municipal Councils in tribal areas.
The Bill also addresses elections to these councils. It proposes that elections to District, Regional, Village and Municipal Councils in the four Sixth Schedule states be conducted by the State Election Commission appointed by the Governor.
These provisions place local governance and financial resources at the centre of the debate over the future structure of autonomous administration.
Tripura-specific powers in the debate
The debate has also included demands for wider legislative and administrative powers for the Tripura council.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the Bill recorded proposals concerning additional powers for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. These included wider authority over several subjects and changes related to land and property. The report also discussed provisions concerning judicial functions and the powers of courts within autonomous areas.
The proposed changes therefore go beyond the question of holding local elections. They touch on the wider constitutional role of autonomous councils and their ability to administer areas under the Sixth Schedule.
Why the issue matters for Tripura ADC
The 125th Amendment debate has gained renewed attention in Tripura amid continuing discussions over the powers and financial position of the TTAADC.
In August, CPIM-backed tribal organisations also demanded early passage of the Bill during a protest in Agartala. The groups linked the demand to stronger constitutional rights and safeguards for the autonomous council.
The issue has also featured in recent discussions over the council’s land-related powers. A September report said the Tripura government had returned an ADC land-rights bill without approval, leaving the council’s demand for expanded land powers unresolved.
These developments have kept constitutional and administrative powers at the centre of the political debate over tribal governance in the state.
Choudhury links ADC powers with grassroots governance
At Shantir Bazar, Choudhury argued that discussions on the tribal areas should address the institutional powers available to the autonomous council.
He also raised concerns over development, employment, education and welfare in rural and tribal areas. His broader argument was that stronger institutions need adequate authority and resources to deliver services effectively.
The CPIM leader has repeatedly raised the 125th Amendment Bill in recent discussions on the ADC. His latest remarks come as political parties campaign in the tribal areas ahead of the local elections.
A long-pending constitutional proposal
The 125th Amendment Bill has remained under parliamentary consideration since its introduction in 2019. The Standing Committee on Home Affairs submitted its report in March 2020.
For Tripura, the debate centres on how the Sixth Schedule can provide effective autonomy while ensuring financial resources and institutional capacity.
Choudhury’s latest demand brings that constitutional question back into the political spotlight. It also shifts attention from the immediate election contest to the larger issue of how the ADC should function and what powers it should exercise.
With local political activity intensifying in the tribal areas, the demand for constitutional reform is likely to remain part of the wider debate over autonomous governance in Tripura.
