Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha has placed the upcoming Village Committee elections firmly in the spotlight, declaring that the NDA alliance—comprising BJP, TIPRA Motha, and IPFT—will contest the polls together. 

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Dr. Saha emphasized that committees from both sides are actively engaged in discussions to finalize seat-sharing arrangements, and that the atmosphere of talks has remained “peaceful and positive.”

Dr. Saha recalled that alliance discussions had taken place last year, including meetings in Delhi, but those did not progress further. “It is natural for alliance equations to shift before elections in different states. This time, however, talks have been held with NDA partners, and preparations are underway to fight unitedly,” he said.

The Chief Minister confirmed that seat-sharing has not yet been finalized, but committees formed by the parties are working to resolve the matter. 

Meetings continued late into Thursday night, reflecting the seriousness of negotiations. “Which party will contest how many seats will be clear once the committees conclude their discussions. Even campaign strategies—whether partners will campaign jointly or separately—will be decided based on mutual understanding,” he added.

The elections, scheduled for September 28, will cover 587 Village Committees, 2,634 constituencies, and 4,597 seats under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). The nomination process began on September 1, with September 8 as the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny was held on September 9, and withdrawals were allowed until September 11.

Dr. Saha expressed confidence that the NDA alliance will perform strongly in the polls. “Committees from both sides have been formed and meetings are being held on seat-sharing. This time, the NDA alliance will contest unitedly and win the Village Committee elections,” he said. He also noted that the discussions have been conducted in a “peaceful and beautiful environment.”

On the question of joint campaigning, the Chief Minister clarified that there is no issue with partners campaigning together, but the final decision will rest with the committees overseeing seat-sharing. “There is also no issue in holding joint campaigning, but the committee will take the final call,” he added.

Beyond electoral matters, Dr. Saha also addressed road and connectivity issues in the state. He acknowledged that several roads remain in poor condition and stressed the need for urgent repairs.

“Roads that are not motorable must be restored quickly. There are technical aspects to road repairs, but we must act fast to reduce public hardship,” he said, adding that he has already issued instructions for immediate action.