Agartala, April 3: A controversy has erupted over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) ahead of the upcoming elections in Tripura. The Left Front, led by the CPI(M), has alleged that the Election Commission is using EVMs without VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) units, despite the availability of sufficient machines in the state.
Left leaders claim that these EVMs have been brought in from Madhya Pradesh and lack the VVPAT feature, raising concerns about the transparency of the voting process.
Voting for the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) is scheduled for April 12, while a by-election for the Dharmanagar assembly seat in North Tripura will take place on April 9.
Manik Dey, the convenor of the Left Front and a former minister, stated that during a recent all-party meeting, the Left, Congress, and other parties demanded the use of EVMs with VVPAT, but this was rejected by State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar.
Dey accused the State Election Commission of operating from a “political perspective,” noting that the commission also dismissed requests for the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) during the elections.
He further alleged that the state’s Tribal Welfare Minister, Bikash Debbarma, claimed during campaign rallies that regardless of which button voters pressed, their votes would go to the BJP. A complaint has been filed against this statement, but no action has been taken so far.
The Left leaders have also questioned the commission’s refusal to allow webcasting, arguing that citing “lack of funds” goes against the principles of transparency.
Additionally, the Left Front has accused the ruling party of distributing cash and freebies openly during the election campaign, with no action taken by the commission on these allegations.
In the Dharmanagar by-election, a total of six candidates from the BJP, CPI(M), Congress, and other parties are contesting. This seat became vacant following the death of former MLA and Assembly Speaker Biswabandhu Sen on December 26, 2025.
According to the State Election Commission, in the TTAADC elections, the BJP, Tipra Motha Party, and the Left Front have fielded candidates for all 28 seats. Congress is contesting 27 seats, while the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has candidates in 24 constituencies. Additionally, 38 independent and smaller party candidates are also in the fray.
Overall, a total of 173 candidates will be vying for their fortunes in the TTAADC elections on April 12. This council covers nearly two-thirds of the state’s area (approximately 10,491 square kilometers) and represents a population of over 1.2 million, with around 84 percent belonging to tribal communities.