AGARTALA:
Newly formed Tripura Democratic Front (TDF) has sought the intervention of Tripura Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya demanding village council poll in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which has been delayed by over a year.
The TDC in a letter to the Governor on February 17, stated that the duration of term of the village committee in the TTAADC is five years, and election needs to be held within six months after the term ends, however, it has not been conducted till date.
“You are aware that under the powers conferred upon the TTAADC of the 6th Schedule to the Constitution, the TTAADC, with the assent of your Excellency, has enacted Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District (Establishment of Village Committee) Act, 1994. The duration of term of the Village Committee as 5 years from the date of first meeting of the Committee. Sub Section (b) of Section 10 of the said Act provides that in case of dissolution, before the expiry of a period of 6(six) months from the date of its dissolution, the election shall have to be conducted,” chairperson of Advisory Committee of TDF, Tapas Dey, said, in the letter.
He also pointed out that as per the Section 29 of the said Act, if the election is not held within six months after the tenure expires, the Executive Committee of the TTAADC can take over the administration of the village committee.
“It appears from the notification issued by the TTAADC (dated 1st May of 2021) that it has taken over the charge of the administration of the village committee. Hence, general election must be arranged at the earliest for the formation of village committee. I, would, therefore, request you to kindly intervene to arrange general election to constitute village committee in TITADC,” the letter further read.
Dey also expressed disappointment over the repeated pleas to the governor for the same going unheard.
Dey, who was the then vice president of state Congress, also announced that TDF will soon launch a massive movement demanding immediate government jobs for unemployed youths, reduction of fuel prices, and provisions for housing, potable water and roads in the tribal areas.
“These are our main demands. Our campaigns are going on, and we couldn’t hold any protest rally due to Covid. The state government is using Covid as a weapon to throttle the voice of opposition. We will soon launch a massive protest,” he added.