Tripura: Tribal party approaches High Court over delay in district council polls

Agartala: Almost a month after the extension of administrator’s rule in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Tripura People’s Front (TPF), a tribal political party has filed a writ petition with the High Court of Tripura seeking clarification from the state government over the delay in conducting polls in the district council.

Tripura governor had extended administrator’s rule in TTAADC for another six months citing fear of the spread of COVID-19.

On May 18, Tripura governor Ramesh Bais nominated G Kameshwara Rao as the administrator of TTAADC, day after the tenure of the executive committee dissolved.

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Speaking with EastMojo, government advocate Debalaya Bhattacharjee said that the petition was filed with the High Court asking the state’s response over the delay in conducting the TTAADC polls and when it would be conducted.

“The TPF political party filed the petition and sought clarification from the state, why the polls are not being conducted. They also want to know when the polls would be conducted in the district council,” Bhattacharjee said.

The TTAADC covers 68% of the total geographical area of the state and is home to over one-third of the total population of Tripura.

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Earlier in January, during the sixth session of the 12th Tripura Legislative Assembly, the resolution to increase the seats of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from 30 to 50 was unanimously passed.

Earlier this week, political parties including IPFT raised question against their own coalition partner BJP and demanded immediate elections in the district council.

Speaking with EastMojo, Mangal Debbarma, assistant general secretary, IPFT had said, “We are the coalition partners in the present BJP-IPFT government. When elections in other BJP-ruled states can be conducted, why cant elections be held here?”.

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