ADC Forum demands announcement of ADC election schedules

Chairmen Forum of Six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) Manipur on Saturday threatened to launch various forms of agitations if the state government fails to announce schedules for elections to the six ADCs covering the entire hill districts of Manipur within one week.

The Manipur government superseded the six ADCs covering the entire hill districts by an order issued on November 30 last amid the demand for holding the due elections without any delay.

Addressing a press conference held at ADC Bhavan, Imphal, coordinator of the forum, Dr Yaronsho Ngalung criticised the state government for its alleged unwillingness to conduct elections to the ADCs despite its initiative “Go to Hill” campaign. He said that there would be no meaning of the government campaign if the state government sidelines the holding of the ADC elections. Dr Ngalung also alleged that delaying the ADC elections has hindered in taking up developmental works in the hill districts of the state.

He then appealed to the state government, particularly the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the state Assembly to come up with the election schedule within a week.

He said that the tribal MLAs of the state should also take the matter seriously and press the state government to hold the pending elections at the earliest. “Otherwise, we will launch agitations of various forms,” he warned. Dr Ngalung added that the Manipur government should take the matter of ADC elections seriously if the government wants to maintain peace and development in hill areas.

The forum’s demand for holding the ADC elections came up at a time even as All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) too is demanding holding the elections without any delay.

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