Tripura Bar Association Election 2026 Set for High-Voltage Contest, Rival Panels Intensify Campaigns as Independents Gain Attention
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, June 10, 2026
The upcoming Tripura Bar Association Election 2026, is witnessing an intense and highly competitive campaign, with rival panels, independent candidates, and political groups all vying for the support of advocates ahead of polling scheduled for June 13. As election fever grips the legal fraternity, candidates have launched aggressive outreach programmes, released manifestos, and stepped up interactions with lawyers across the state.
The election has largely evolved into a contest between the Save Constitution Forum and the Ainjibi Unnayan Mancha, although several independent candidates have also entered the fray, adding a new dimension to what is being described as one of the most closely watched Bar Association elections in recent years. While the Save Constitution Forum is widely perceived to enjoy the backing of the Congress-Left camp, the Ainjibi Unnayan Mancha is considered close to the ruling BJP-supported section of the legal community. Both groups have centered their campaigns on advocate welfare, infrastructure development, digital facilities, health protection, and financial assistance for young lawyers.
The Save Constitution Forum has fielded a full panel led by Pritha Deb Paul for President, Sanjoy Saha for Vice-President, Bhaskar Debbarma for Secretary, and Bhabani Ranjan Bhattacharjee and Mallika Saha for Assistant Secretary. The panel's candidates for executive member positions include Bhandari Reang, Debabrata Debnath, Debjyoti Debnath, Kishore Debbarma, Likha Bhowmik, Niladri Mukherjee, Satabdi Roy, Subendu Noatia, Subrata Saha and Swarup Pandit.
The forum has unveiled an ambitious welfare-oriented manifesto aimed particularly at supporting newly enrolled advocates. Its promises include welfare fund benefits after one year of Bar membership, accident insurance coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh for advocates aged between 25 and 65 years, and efforts to secure a monthly stipend of Rs.5,000 for young lawyers during their first three years of practice. The panel has also pledged to improve seating arrangements for advocates, provide free Wi-Fi in all Bar rooms, establish a modern reading room equipped with online legal research facilities and SCC access, organize professional training programmes, create a Lawyers' Grievance Cell, improve bike parking facilities within the court complex, and work towards establishing a primary health centre inside the court premises. Leaders of the forum have said their objective is to uphold constitutional values, strengthen professional dignity, and ensure the collective development of the legal fraternity.
On the other hand, the Ainjibi Unnayan Mancha has entered the race with a strong panel headed by Subrata Debnath for President, Jiban Krishna Sen for Vice-President, Bidyut Sutradhar for Secretary, and Chaitali Bhattacharjee and Mintu Debbarma for Assistant Secretary. The executive member candidates include Alak Datta, Anamika Mallik, Anirban Lodh, Ankur Saha, Arpan Das, Dulal Saha, Hritubarna Das, Kishalay Roy, Rakesh Debnath and Ruthi Debbarma.
The Ainjibi Unnayan Mancha has focused its campaign on welfare and infrastructure development. Among its major commitments are the creation of a welfare fund for advocates with one to five years of practice, free Wi-Fi facilities throughout the Bar premises, adequate seating arrangements for newly enrolled advocates, a cleaner and more professional working environment, dedicated facilities and washrooms for women advocates, and free health insurance along with regular health check-up programmes for all lawyers. The panel has appealed to members of the Bar to support its vision of comprehensive development and modernization of the legal community.
Meanwhile, the election has also taken a political turn. In a significant development, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Legal Department has suspended advocate Mrinal Kanti Biswas from its primary membership and all organizational activities after he decided to contest the Tripura Bar Association election as an independent candidate despite the party's decision to support another nominee. According to the suspension notice, the move was viewed as an act of indiscipline and a violation of the commitments he had made while accepting membership of the Congress Legal Department. Pending further disciplinary proceedings, the suspension has come into immediate effect.
Political observers believe that this year's election is particularly significant because it could shape the future direction of the state's largest body of practicing advocates. Issues such as welfare measures, professional training, health security, infrastructure development, and representation of young lawyers have emerged as key concerns during the campaign.
However, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the contests for the posts of President and Secretary, where independent candidates are also attracting considerable attention. Legal circles point out that in the nearly 125-year history of the Tripura Bar Association, no woman advocate has ever occupied the President's chair. Likewise, no independent candidate has ever been elected President or Secretary of the Association. These historical factors, coupled with the growing presence of independent contenders, have made this year's election particularly intriguing and unpredictable.
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