Agartala, April 2 (NationPress) In a stark indication of the insufficient representation of women, a mere 4.62 percent of the 173 candidates vying for seats in the April 12 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) are female. This council, established in 1982 to foster the socio-economic growth of tribal populations, is recognized as the second most significant constitutional entity in the state after the Assembly.

Officials from the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC), which oversees the elections, revealed that only eight women candidates are participating. Among the larger political parties, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, its partner Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Congress have each put forward one woman candidate.

The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has nominated three women, while one woman is running as an Independent. The TMP and IPFT, both tribal-focused parties and allies of the BJP, are competing independently after failing to finalize a seat-sharing deal.

In the previous 2021 TTAADC elections, six women participated, with two — Swapna Rani Das and Dolly Reang — securing victories. The council consists of 30 members, including 28 elected representatives and two appointed by the state government.

The TTAADC governs nearly two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and serves a population exceeding 12.16 lakh, approximately 84 percent of whom are part of indigenous tribal groups. This underscores its importance in the state's political framework.

The elections have attracted all major political factions, including the BJP, the CPI(M)-led Left Front, and the Congress. Regional entities like the TMP and IPFT, along with multiple smaller parties and Independent candidates, are also in the running.

As per SEC officials, the BJP, TMP, and the Left Front have fielded candidates in all 28 constituencies. The Congress is contesting 27 seats, while the IPFT has candidates in 24. Additionally, 38 Independents and candidates from smaller parties are competing.

The Tipra Motha Party has held power in the TTAADC since 2021, having emerged as the dominant party in the last elections by winning 18 seats and taking control from the CPI(M). The BJP contested 11 seats, winning nine, while a BJP-supported Independent also triumphed and later aligned with the TMP.

Tribals constitute nearly one-third of Tripura's 42 lakh residents and continue to wield significant influence in the state's political landscape.

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