Tripura Assembly Unanimously Advances ADC Poll Date to April 12 Amid Festival Concerns

BY TC News Desk

Agartala, 18^th March 2026:  The Tripura Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to advance the polling date for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections from April 13 to April 12, considering the coincidence of major festivals.

The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Congress MLA and former minister Sudip Roy Barman, who highlighted that April 13 coincides with Buisu, an important festival of indigenous communities, as well as the Bengali New Year. He urged all parties to support a change in the schedule to avoid inconvenience to voters.

Roy Barman also suggested revisiting the counting date, currently set for April 17, noting that it may overlap with ongoing elections in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, potentially influencing voter sentiment there.

Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury backed the proposal, stating that even the ruling party had approached the State Election Commission (SEC) on the matter. Leaders from Tipra Motha and IPFT also supported the move, emphasizing respect for cultural and religious observances.

Chief Minister Manik Saha pointed out that the election schedule was already tight, with polling initially set for April 13, re-poll on April 16, and counting on April 17. He cautioned that major changes could disrupt the timeline and administrative process but acknowledged the widespread demand for adjustment.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath suggested shortening the Assembly session to expedite a decision, proposing an urgent Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.

Following discussions, Tipra Motha MLA Chitta Ranjan Debbarma proposed April 12 as an alternative polling date, which received consensus across party lines. The Opposition also recommended advancing the counting date to April 16.

Finally, Cabinet spokesperson Susanta Chowdhury announced that the House had unanimously agreed to request the SEC to reschedule polling to April 12, taking into account the overlapping festivals of both tribal and Bengali communities.