Agartala: The Twipra Students Federation (TSF) has issued a formal appeal to all political parties participating in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) general elections. The federation has demanded that indigenous candidates be nominated for all 28 seats, including the three seats traditionally considered “General” seats.
Addressing a press conference at the Agartala Press Club today, TSF Vice President John Debbarma placed this demand before the political leadership of the state.
Key Highlights of the Press Conference:
- Indigenous Representation in All Seats: TSF has urged parties to move beyond the traditional reservation norms and ensure that even the non-reserved (General) seats within the council are represented by indigenous leaders to uphold the spirit of the Sixth Schedule.
- Reaction to CPI(M) Candidate List: The federation expressed disappointment after reviewing the candidate list recently released by the CPI(M), noting that it does not align with their demand for total indigenous representation. They have reiterated their appeal to other major parties, including the BJP, Tipra Motha, and Congress, to prioritize tribal candidates.
- Protecting Identity: John Debbarma emphasized that the primary purpose of the ADC is to protect the political rights, culture, and identity of the indigenous “Tiprasa” people, which can only be achieved through direct representation.
- Call for Unity: The federation called upon all political entities to set aside purely strategic calculations and focus on the empowerment of the tribal communities in the upcoming polls.
