Agartala, September 28: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday appealed to voters to exercise their franchise freely and without fear as polling began for the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), while condemning the alleged attack on the convoy of former chief minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar in Bamutia a day earlier.
Speaking to reporters in Agartala, Saha said he had personally sought details of the incident at Kalibazar and was informed by the police that Sarkar had been provided a double escort.
“I immediately inquired, and the police department informed me that he was provided with a double escort,” Saha said, adding that Sarkar had acknowledged the police arrangements.
The chief minister said different accounts had emerged regarding the gathering at Kalibazar, with some linking it to the issue concerning 10,323 teachers and others to the Rose Valley case.
“Regardless of who was present, it is not desirable for things to happen this way; such conduct is not part of our culture,” Saha said.
He also urged voters to participate in the elections without apprehension and said polling should take place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.
“Please go to your polling stations and cast your votes without any worry. You are free to vote for any candidate of your choice. Voting is your duty, but it is also your right,” he said.
Saha said the Director General of Police had assured him that polling was proceeding peacefully across the state. He also emphasised that voters’ choices would determine their local representatives and influence grassroots development.
Polling began at 7 am and is being conducted through ballot papers for **2,950 contested seats across 587 Village Committees**. Of the total 4,597 seats, 1,644 have already been filled unopposed, while three seats received no nominations. Around **6.65 lakh voters** are eligible to vote in the constituencies where contests are taking place. The final electoral roll contains 9,61,977 voters, but those in uncontested or vacant seats are not voting on Monday.
The polls are being held after nearly a decade. The previous Village Committee elections were conducted in 2016, while the elected bodies’ tenure ended in March 2021. The delay was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent legal complications.
The State Election Commission has deployed central and state security forces for the polls. Counting of votes is scheduled for October 5.
Saha also referred to the month-long **Seva Sankalp Abhiyan**, saying social organisations had participated actively in the initiative and thanking them for their contribution.
