Imphal, April 26 2010: State Election Department today issued notification for the first phase of the two-phase elections to the Autonomous District Councils keeping behind the demands put forward by various tribal bodies particularly Naga based organisations.

The first phase polling will be held on May 26, announced the Secretary, State Election Commission at a briefing to reporters this afternoon at the office of the Commisson at Lamphel.

The notification for the second phase will be issued a week later, the Secretary said.

In the first phase, polling will be held to elect 24 members of each of three ADCs�Chandel, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills.

The polling will be held at 552 polling stations�255 in Churachandpur district, 169 in Sadar Hills and 228 in Chandel district.

The notification issued under sub-rule (2) of Rule 15 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Election of Members), Rules, 2009 under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 2008, an Act which many hill based civil organisations particularly Naga based are demanding rectification before elections are held.

The issuance of the notification comes after the state government cleared the way for holding the elections by issuing notification calling the District Councils Constituency of Sadar Hills, Chandel and Churachandpur District Councils to elect one member of each of the constituencies.

The notification was issued by the Chief Secretary of Manipur.

Election code of conduct has also started enforcing in the state with the issue of the notification, the secretary Th Chitra Devi announced.

Meanwhile, a total of 217 vehicles including 206 loaded trucks, two oil tankers and nine inter-state buses, stranded at Mao Gate have left for Imphal this afternoon with heavy security escort with personnel from the 2nd Manipur Rifles under the command of an assistant commandant.