By News On Air Jul 18, 2026
Agartala, July 18 (FD) In a significant administrative reshuffle ahead of the forthcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections, recently retired senior IAS officer Dr. Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty has been appointed as the State Election Commissioner of Tripura with immediate effect.
Chakraborty, who was serving as Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha following his retirement from the Indian Administrative Service, succeeds retired IAS officer and former Tripura Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar. Kumar had assumed office as the State Election Commissioner on November 16, 2025, and served in the post for the past eight months.
A seasoned administrator with decades of experience, Chakraborty has held several key positions in the Tripura Government during his distinguished career. His appointment comes at a crucial juncture as the State Election Commission is expected to begin preparations for the politically significant TTAADC Village Committee elections.
Following his appointment, the State Government has redistributed his departmental responsibilities. Senior IAS officer Kiran Gitte has been appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister and has also been given additional charge of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department. IAS officer Tapas Ray has been assigned the Education (Youth Affairs and Sports) Department, while the General Administration (Confidential and Cabinet) Department will continue under the charge of Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha.
Chakraborty's elevation to the constitutional post assumes added significance as the State Election Commission will be responsible for conducting the upcoming TTAADC Village Committee elections, one of the state's most closely watched local body polls.
As the State Election Commissioner, he will oversee the entire electoral process, including the announcement of the election schedule, preparation and revision of electoral rolls, enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, and ensuring that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The administrative reshuffle is expected to ensure continuity in governance while strengthening the institutional framework for the smooth, impartial and credible conduct of the forthcoming TTAADC Village Committee elections. FD JK