Agartala, April 17 (NationPress) The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which partners with the ruling BJP, has successfully maintained its dominance over the crucial Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by obtaining a significant majority in the state’s second most vital constitutional institution following the Assembly.

The TTAADC, consisting of 30 members, includes 28 elected officials and two appointees from the state government, overseeing approximately 70 percent of Tripura's 10,491 sq km land area.

Under the leadership of former royal heir Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the TMP has secured 18 seats while also leading in four other districts.

The BJP has claimed two seats and is ahead in four additional areas.

Similar to the 2021 TTAADC elections, the CPI (M)-led Left Front and the Congress party have once again failed to secure any seats.

In the previous TTAADC elections held in 2021, the BJP contested 11 seats, winning nine, with an Independent candidate backed by the BJP also winning and later joining the TMP.

The TMP had previously won 18 seats in the 2021 elections, taking control of the council from the CPI (M)-led Left Front after a significant duration.

Political analysts noted that with two consecutive victories in the TTAADC, the TMP has further consolidated its influence in Tripura's political arena. Established in 1985 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the TTAADC has limited powers over roughly 68 percent of the state's territory. Despite these restrictions, it remains a critical constitutional entity, second only to the state Assembly in terms of political importance.

Vote counting for the essential TTAADC elections is currently taking place across all eight districts of the state, under stringent three-tier security measures. An official from the State Election Commission (SEC) stated that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, have been enacted around counting centers to maintain law and order.

Enhanced security protocols have been established at all 17 counting centers statewide, with both central and state security forces deployed, as per the official.

The electoral battle in the tribal council elections involved three national parties: the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front, and the Congress, alongside two significant regional parties, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). Additionally, several smaller parties and Independent candidates participated.

According to SEC officials, the BJP, TMP, and the Left Front presented candidates in all 28 constituencies. The Congress fielded candidates in 27 seats, while the IPFT nominated individuals in 24 constituencies. Furthermore, 38 Independent candidates, along with nominees from smaller parties, took part in the elections.

The BJP and its two tribal allies — TMP and IPFT — contested the April 12 elections separately, having failed to establish an electoral agreement for the TTAADC polls.

Since 2021, the TMP has controlled this strategically significant council, widely regarded as the second most important political and constitutional institution in Tripura after the state Assembly.

The TTAADC was established in June 1985 under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to foster the socio-economic progress of tribal communities, which continue to hold a vital role in the state's political landscape.

Tribal communities make up nearly one-third of Tripura's 4.2 million population and are a decisive force in the state's politics. More than 83.52 percent of the 962,697 eligible voters participated in the April 12 elections, determining the fate of 173 candidates.