AGARTALA, Feb 2 (TIWN): Keeping eye on the ensuing village committee election slated to be held on February 24 the state election commission on Tuesday hold a meeting with the general observers appointed for the TTAADC village committee election at Pragna Bhawan.

Reportedly, Polls to 587 village committees in Tripura would be held on February 24. The village committees, falling in areas under the politically important Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), are equivalent to gram panchayats outside the council areas. Elections for the 4,597 seats would be held on February 24.Of the total seats, 4,018 are reserved for tribals, 180 for people from Scheduled Castes and 2,005 for women. Instead of Electronic Voting Machines, ballot boxes would be used for the polls. This is being done, according to the election laws of the TTAADC. The statutory notifications for the polls was issued on January 29.Tripura's ruling Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) retained the 30-member tribal autonomous body for the third consecutive term in last year's elections.

After the formation of the TTAADC 34 years ago under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, its constitutional and legal powers were upgraded in August 1984 to protect and safeguard the political, economic and cultural interests of tribal’s, who constitute one-third of Tripura's 3.7 million population.

The TTAADC governs two-thirds of Tripura's 10,492 square km area. Date of issue of nomination by the SEC was on 29th January, 2016. 5th February is the last date of making nomination.  Scrutiny will be done on February 6.   Last date of withdrawal of candidature will be done on 8th February.   

The counting for the votes will be done on 27 February and the date before which election to be completed is 7th March.

It is to be mentioned here that the political Parties are holding meeting in the various interior parts of the state with an aim to grab the seats in the upcoming election and the Left Front Party has begin their campaigning for the village election long back.