VA election draws mix response
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, October 24 2012:
The proposed Village Authority election in the hill districts of the State has drawn a mix-bag of responses as it caused a degree of resentment within certain sections of the society while it induce others to gladly accept it.
Almost all Chiefs association from the Kuki community has raised objection to holding the election which they believe will eventually end-up in eliminating the chieftainship � that was followed for ages in the long run.
The Zomi Council on the other hand contrasted the view and publicly endorsed the government's initiative on the ground that it will root-out the present practice of nominating an individual's choice.
Against such a backdrop, issuance of notification for the election in each of the recognized villages particularly in Churachandpur district has witness the onset hectic lobbying.
There have been reports of house to house canvassing in many localities, particularly in and around the township, clearly indicating the common man's keenness to enter in the helm of power at the village level.
Official sources on the other hand told The Sangai Express that despite the election exercise, the chiefs will still retain the post of ex-officio Chairman in their respective village without the need to run in the election.
'It's just the remaining members that will be elected,' it said.
The election which will be supervised mainly by the VLWs will need two persons to propose a name as a candidate, one as a proposal and another as a seconder.
The villagers who turn-up for voting will have to just write down the names of their choices, the number for which vary from village to village depending upon the number of households said Laltanpuii, the SDO of Churachandpur.
It will be a very simple exercise, similar to any other election in the civil society organisations, she said.