Agartala, September 9: A total of 10,936 candidates have filed 10,958 nomination papers for 4,597 seats in Tripura’s Village Committee elections, State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary Anurag Sen said on Wednesday, as the electoral process entered the scrutiny stage amid allegations of intimidation and sporadic political violence.
Tipra Motha has fielded the highest number of candidates at 4,371, followed by CPI(M) with 2,484 and BJP with 1,974. IPFT has submitted 486 nominations, Congress 466 and CPI four. Independents, minor parties and other unrecognised political parties account for 1,151 candidates.
Of the 4,597 seats, 1,169 have so far received only a single nomination, largely from Tipra Motha. Three seats—two under Mungiakami RD Block and one under Hezamara RD Block—have received no nominations from any political party.
Sen said scrutiny of nominations was underway and the final picture would emerge after the withdrawal deadline on September 11. Candidates can be declared elected unopposed only after completion of the prescribed electoral process.
The SEC maintained that the nomination process was conducted fairly and said it had received no complaint specifically related to the filing of nominations. However, Sen said complaints concerning sporadic incidents outside the formal nomination process had been forwarded to the police for necessary legal action.
The commission’s statement came amid allegations by opposition parties of intimidation and obstruction of candidates in parts of the TTAADC areas. Political tensions also escalated on Tuesday after IPFT general secretary Swapan Debbarma was allegedly assaulted at Hezamara.
IPFT leaders alleged that supporters of Tipra Motha attacked Debbarma and vandalised his vehicle. He was subsequently taken to GBP Hospital for treatment. IPFT Minister Sukla Charan Noatia condemned the incident and appealed for restraint and protection of democratic space.
The incident has added tension to the polls, particularly as IPFT and Tipra Motha are constituents of Tripura’s ruling alliance.
The SEC has sought enhanced security arrangements, with 24 companies of central forces initially confirmed. Additional forces have subsequently been sanctioned, with more personnel expected from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Village Committee elections are being held after a decade following a Supreme Court judgment in a case filed by Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. Polling is scheduled for September 28 and counting for October 5 across 587 committees, comprising 2,634 constituencies and 4,597 seats.
With scrutiny and withdrawal still pending, the number of seats witnessing contests will become clear only after September 11.
