Tripura Village Committee Election: 10,936 Candidates File Nominations; Scrutiny Underway
Tripura’s upcoming Village Committee (VC) elections under the TTAADC have entered a crucial stage after 10,958 nomination papers were filed. The nomination process has now moved through scrutiny, with the latest reports indicating that 10,889 nominations have been found valid. The Tipra Motha Party emerged as the largest player in the nomination race, while BJP, CPI(M), Congress, IPFT and other candidates are also contesting across the tribal areas. The final candidate list will become clearer after the withdrawal process, ahead of polling scheduled for September 28, 2026.
NETB24
Agartala, September 10, 2026: The nomination process for the long-awaited Village Committee (VC) elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has concluded, with more than 10,000 candidates entering the electoral race across the tribal council areas.
According to figures released by the Tripura State Election Commission, a total of 10,958 nomination papers were submitted by 10,936 candidates for elections to 4,597 seats across 587 Village Committees.
Tipra Motha leads nomination race
Among the major political parties, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) submitted the highest number of nominations. The party filed 4,390 nomination papers through 4,371 candidates.
The CPI(M) followed with 2,487 nomination papers submitted by 2,484 candidates, while the BJP filed 1,974 nomination papers. The Congress submitted 466 nominations, while the IPFT filed 486. The CPI and other candidates also entered the contest.
The large number of nominations indicates intense competition for control of Village Committees, which form an important grassroots level of administration within the TTAADC area.
Scrutiny of nomination papers
Following the completion of nomination filing, the scrutiny process began on September 9. Returning Officers are examining the nomination papers to determine whether candidates meet the prescribed eligibility requirements and whether their papers have been properly submitted.
Candidates whose nominations are found valid will remain in the electoral contest, while nominations failing to meet statutory requirements may be rejected.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 11. After the withdrawal process, the State Election Commission will publish the final list of contesting candidates and proceed with ballot-paper preparation.
4,597 seats across 587 Village Committees
The election will cover 587 Village Committees containing 4,597 seats across the TTAADC area.
Of the total seats, 4,025 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 178 for Scheduled Castes and 394 are unreserved. Women also have substantial representation through reserved seats, including 1,693 women-reserved ST seats, 67 women-reserved SC seats and 245 women-reserved seats in the unreserved category.
BJP–Tipra Motha seat-sharing remains a major factor
The nomination process has also highlighted the political importance of the understanding between the BJP and Tipra Motha ahead of the election.
Reports said the two parties reached an in-principle understanding on seat distribution following discussions among senior leaders. However, the actual nomination figures show that both parties have fielded candidates in a large number of seats, making the withdrawal process particularly important in determining the final contest in several constituencies.
The BJP's comparatively large number of nominations also comes after reports that the party had initially delayed filing papers while discussions over the alliance and seat-sharing arrangement were underway.
Opposition parties also prepare for a major contest
The CPI(M), Congress, IPFT and other candidates have also entered the electoral battle, ensuring that the VC election is not simply a contest between the ruling alliance partners.
The Left Front has separately alleged that candidates from opposition parties faced obstacles while attempting to file nominations in some areas. These allegations have been politically disputed and will remain an important issue to watch as the election process moves forward.
Polling on September 28
After scrutiny and withdrawal, the final electoral field will become clear.
According to the State Election Commission schedule, polling for the Village Committee elections is scheduled for September 28, 2026, while counting of votes is scheduled for October 5.
The election is particularly significant because Village Committee elections in the TTAADC areas have not been held for around a decade. The Supreme Court had directed that the long-delayed elections be conducted within the prescribed schedule.
With thousands of candidates now in the fray, the coming days will focus on scrutiny, withdrawals, final candidate lists and local-level alliances. The final list after September 11 is expected to provide a much clearer picture of the constituencies where direct contests will take place.
Key figures:
- Village Committees: 587
- Total seats: 4,597
- Candidates: 10,936
- Nomination papers: 10,958
- TMP nominations: 4,390 papers / 4,371 candidates
- CPI(M): 2,487 papers / 2,484 candidates
- BJP: 1,974 papers / 1,974 candidates
- IPFT: 486 papers
- Congress: 466 papers
- Scrutiny: September 9
- Withdrawal deadline: September 11
- Polling: September 28
- Counting: October 5
