By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | April 2, 2026
AGARTALA: Raising serious concerns over the sanctity of the electoral process, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has demanded that the upcoming TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council) elections and the Dharmanagar assembly bye-election be conducted via paper ballots. In a press conference held at the Congress Bhavan today, party spokespersons alleged that the current EVM-based system lacks transparency and that the State Election Commission is acting under government pressure.
The briefing was addressed by TPCC Spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty and General Secretary Prasanta Sen Choudhury, following a contentious all-party meeting held yesterday.
Allegations of EVM Discrepancies
The Congress leadership expressed deep suspicion regarding the procurement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). They questioned why a large number of EVMs were brought from Madhya Pradesh despite sufficient stock already being available within the state.
Key Grievances Raised:
- Lack of VVPAT: General Secretary Prasanta Sen Choudhury revealed that the party learned in yesterday’s meeting that the polls might be conducted using older EVMs without VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) units.
- Ignored Security Demands: Claims that requests for mandatory CCTV surveillance and webcasting at all booths have been largely ignored by the commission.
- Administrative Bias: Prabir Chakraborty alleged that State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar is functioning as per the dictates of the ruling government rather than as an independent constitutional body.
Chaotic All-Party Meeting
The leaders described yesterday’s all-party meet as a failure. According to Prasanta Sen Choudhury, when Congress representatives raised concerns about voter security and CCTV installation, BJP representatives reportedly engaged in a heated argument, leading to a state of disorder.
”Since 2018, every election in Tripura has seen a blatant misuse of administrative power and money. We want the elections to be conducted under the vigil of Central Paramilitary Forces and through Ballot Papers to restore the common man’s faith in democracy. The sudden influx of EVMs from other states, despite our local stock being verified, smells of a conspiracy,” Prabir Chakraborty asserted.
Upcoming Campaign: AICC Leadership to Arrive
To bolster their campaign, the Congress announced a high-profile visit by national leaders:
- Saptagiri Ulaka Visit: AICC General Secretary and MP Saptagiri Ulaka is scheduled to arrive in Agartala tomorrow.
- Manifesto Release: The party will officially release its dedicated Election Manifesto for the TTAADC polls tomorrow.
- Dharmanagar Campaign: AICC leaders will spearhead a massive campaign rally on April 4 in support of Congress candidate Shri Chayan Bhattacharjee for the 56–Dharmanagar bye-election.
Current Political Tension
The demand for ballots comes at a time when other opposition parties, including the CPI(M), have also expressed reservations about the use of M1-category EVMs without paper trails. With the TTAADC polls set for April 12, the pressure is mounting on the State Election Commission to provide a “level playing field.”
