Agartala: Founder of the Tipra Motha Party and royal scion of Tripura, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, on Tuesday criticized the prolonged delay in conducting village council elections in the state’s tribal areas, describing the situation as a blot on democratic principles.

Addressing the issue, Pradyot said it was “very shameful” that despite frequent discussions on concepts such as “One Nation, One Election” and the importance of democracy, elections to village committees in Tripura have not been held for the past ten years.

Expressing hope for judicial intervention, he said that the indigenous people of the state were looking towards the Supreme Court for justice. According to him, after a decade-long wait, the apex court could pave the way for the conduct of village committee elections and restore the democratic rights of tribal communities.

“This fight has been fought by myself, and I have spent my own pocket money. I want my indigenous people to get their real rights,” Pradyot stated, underscoring his commitment to the cause.

He further asserted that democratic institutions at the grassroots level cannot remain inactive indefinitely and called for immediate steps to ensure that the long-pending elections are held.

The Tipra Motha chief has been consistently advocating for the rights and political empowerment of indigenous communities in Tripura, with the issue of village committee elections remaining one of the key concerns raised by his party.